Turkish attacks on northern and eastern Syria raised in German Bundestag

The Left Party (Die Linke) MP Clara Bünger raised the issue of the Turkish state’s attacks on civilian settlements in northern and eastern Syria while the German government, chaired by Olaf Scholz, was answering questions from members of the German Bundestag on the Israel-Gaza war. Referring to the Turkish state’s intensive bombardment of northern and eastern Syria, Bünger put questions to Justice Minister Marco Buschmann.

Commenting on the Turkish attacks, Bünger said: “These attacks have killed civilians, women and children, and bombed the infrastructure of the settlements. Mr Buschmann, you have just spoken about the attacks on Israel and pointed out that attacks that violate international law must not go unpunished. The Research Services of the Bundestag itself had previously reported that Turkey was violating international law with these attacks. So, Mr Buschmann, as Minister of Justice, don’t you also think that the attacks on northern and eastern Syria violate international law?”

In response to the question, Buschmann said that from a humanitarian point of view, the issue of international law was clear and unambiguous. He continued: “Civilian settlements must never be targeted and civilian infrastructure must never be bombed. When such attacks take place, it is a violation of international law from a humanitarian point of view.” Buschmann went on to say that he did not have detailed information on the matter.

Following his answer, Bünger stressed that it was important to recognise Turkey’s attacks as a violation of international law from a humanitarian perspective and asked why the Federal Prosecutor had not yet opened an investigation into the attacks. Buschmann replied that it was up to the independent Federal Prosecutor’s Office to decide whether or not to open an investigation, and said that he would ask what their criteria were and then get back to Bünger.