DayofPal– A covertly recorded video has surfaced, revealing that Israel’s ambassador to Austria, David Roet, advocated for the execution of Palestinian children, alleging they carry weapons.
His remarks, made during a closed-door meeting with the local Jewish community in Innsbruck on Thursday, have ignited international condemnation.
Roet asserted that Palestinian teenagers seen wielding firearms or grenades “should be sentenced to death.” He did not provide any evidence to substantiate his claim that children in Gaza were armed.
His comments came just two days after Israel unilaterally ended a ceasefire on March 18, resuming its military assault on the enclave. By that time, Israeli forces had already killed over 500 Palestinians, including more than 200 children.
Dismissing allegations of indiscriminate civilian casualties in Gaza, Roet defended Israel’s military actions. “If you believe that there are no uninvolved [people] in Gaza… you’re believing that Israel is targeting babies intentionally, which is not correct,” he stated.
However, figures from UNICEF contradict his defense. Since Israel launched its military campaign on October 7, 2023, more than 14,500 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza—a figure that does not account for those killed following the collapse of the ceasefire.
The overall Palestinian death toll has surpassed 50,000, with at least 113,000 wounded. Additionally, at least 10,000 people remain unaccounted for, feared to be trapped beneath the ruins of bombed-out buildings.
Roet’s comments extended beyond justifying Israel’s military operations; he also cast doubt on the prospect of rebuilding Gaza. He questioned whether European nations should invest in reconstruction efforts, openly implying that further destruction was inevitable.
“Will Europe be crazy enough to invest money again in Gaza? So we will have to destroy it the next time,” he remarked, effectively normalizing the cycle of devastation.
The ambassador further claimed that he was in direct contact with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker via WhatsApp. According to Roet, Stocker reassured him that Austria’s diplomatic and economic ties with Israel would remain unwavering.
The activist responsible for filming the meeting condemned Roet’s statements. “I felt sickened by the calm in Mr. Roet’s voice as he made these statements. No one intervened when he suggested the death penalty for children,” they said.
“This shows how corrupted the issue is when those with power suggest war crimes as a solution. To end the suffering, we must challenge the fascist psychopaths who profit from imperialist deals and turn us against each other.”
The leaked video has intensified scrutiny over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and its diplomatic relations in Europe, as calls grow for accountability in the face of mounting allegations of war crimes.
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