Israel’s ambassador to Austria, David Roet, has sparked outrage after a secretly recorded video revealed his remarks advocating for the execution of Palestinian minors allegedly involved in armed resistance. During a closed-door meeting with the Jewish community in Innsbruck on March 21, Roet stated that “there should be a death sentence” for teenagers “holding a gun” or a “grenade.” However, he provided no evidence of children in Gaza carrying weapons.
The recording surfaced just days after Israel broke the Gaza ceasefire on March 18, resuming its military assault, which has since claimed more than 500 Palestinian lives, including nearly 200 children. Roet downplayed concerns over civilian casualties, dismissing accusations that Israel was targeting babies intentionally. “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 said.
Gaza’s Devastating Death Toll
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in staggering casualties. According to UNICEF, over 14,500 Palestinian children have been killed in the war. The overall death toll has surpassed 50,000, with at least 113,000 wounded. Thousands remain missing, likely buried under rubble.
Read More: Umar Farooq Zahoor Awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz for Driving Foreign Investment and Humanitarian Efforts
Following the ceasefire breakdown on March 18, at least 673 additional Palestinians have been killed, further worsening the humanitarian crisis. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that among the dead are entire families, wiped out in Israeli airstrikes. Meanwhile, international organizations continue to call for an end to the violence and accountability for war crimes.
Roet’s Controversial Comments on Gaza’s Future
In the same meeting, Roet questioned whether Europe should continue investing in Gaza’s reconstruction, 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, prompting further outrage. His statement suggested that Israel’s long-term strategy included repeated military operations against Gaza, undermining any prospects for rebuilding and stability.
Roet also hinted at potential geopolitical solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He speculated that future agreements could involve “Trump, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, European and American forces, or maybe even an internal Palestinian leadership that would not be called Palestinian.” His comments reflected a broader Israeli stance of sidelining Palestinian self-determination in favor of imposed solutions.
Direct Links to Austrian Leadership
Roet further revealed that he had direct contact with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker through WhatsApp, claiming to be the only diplomat who had spoken with him. He alleged that Stocker sought to reassure him of Austria’s unwavering support for Israel, reinforcing the close political ties between the two nations.
The activist who secretly recorded the meeting expressed deep concern over the lack of pushback against Roet’s remarks. “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. The activist further condemned what they described as a normalization of war crimes, stating, “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.”
As the video circulates, Roet’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and international observers. The footage serves as yet another damning piece of evidence in the mounting allegations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, further complicating Israel’s diplomatic relations amid growing global condemnation.