Opinion: War on Gaza exposes Germany's feminist foreign policy as a sham

When German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock presented the guidelines of her feminist foreign policy in March 2023, she proclaimed: “If women are not safe, then no one is safe.”

Considering Germany’s extensive support for the Israeli war on Gaza, that sentence now sounds like a farce. Since 7 October, more than 35,000 people, most of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza. In a matter of months, Germany has tarnished its reputation as an advocate for feminist principles, peace and adherence to international law.

The Federal Foreign Office laid out 10 guidelines as part of its feminist foreign policy. The first guideline speaks to the importance of protecting civilians in armed conflicts.

This focus is sensible, as research shows that women and children suffer particularly from the indirect consequences of armed conflicts, such as impeded access to food, water and medical care.