World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Philippe Sands wins peace prize and criticizes Germany’s silence on Israel
Philippe Sands, a Franco-British lawyer and author, received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade at the end of the Frankfurt Book Fair.
The award recognized his work defending human rights and international law.
At the ceremony in Frankfurt, Sands criticized what he called Germany’s silence about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
He said violations of international law should be named, including when they involve allies, and that people should not be punished for speaking about them.
Sands also condemned the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and said Israel has a right to defend itself, but that right must follow international law.
The issue matters because his speech challenged how Germany discusses Israel and the treatment of Palestinians.
Sands also called for support for Ukraine, saying its struggle is shared by others.
The sources do not state what happens next.
Philippe Sands received the 2026 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade at the close of the Frankfurt Book Fair.
In his acceptance speech, he criticized what he called Germany’s silence about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Sands said human rights abuses should be clearly named, including when committed by allies.
He also condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks and said Israel’s right to defend itself is limited by international law.
Sands called for greater freedom to discuss and criticize alleged international crimes in Germany.
- Who
- Philippe Sands, a Franco-British lawyer, author and law professor.
- What
- He received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade and criticized Germany’s silence on Israel.
- When
- At the close of the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair; the award ceremony was reported on October 11.
- Where
- The Paulskirche in Frankfurt, Germany.
- Why
- The prize recognized his work for justice, peace and the defense of international law; he used his speech to call for abuses to be named and discussed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It's not antisemitic. It's not anti-Israel. It's the truth.
Germany knows all about ethnic cleansing. So why the silence? Silence is not the way. Not for a family. Not for a community. Not for a country.
Die Hamas-Angriffe vom 7. Oktober 2023 waren entsetzlich.
Der Kampf der Ukrainer ist unser Kampf.
Hamas carried out attacks that Sands later condemned as appalling and a violation of international law.
Sands received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in Frankfurt and criticized Germany’s silence on Israel.
DW reported on the award and Sands’s acceptance speech.
- Recipient
- Philippe Sands
- Award
- 2026 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
- Award ceremony
- Paulskirche, Frankfurt
- Prize amount
- €25,000
- Key criticism
- Germany’s silence about Israel, Gaza and the West Bank
- Book
- East West Street, published in 2016
Sources
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