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Tobias Huch, a former German entrepreneur, FDP-affiliated politician, and self-described journalist, is facing harsh backlash after publishing an immoral post on X (formerly known as Twitter), in which he blamed hereditary illnesses among children in Gaza not on war or siege, but on alleged cousin marriages and Islamic traditions.
He suggested that the rising number of child deaths in Gaza is due to “cousin marriages”—not the Israeli military siege and attacks.
“After seeing so many children with hereditary diseases in Gaza in recent days, for which Israel is not responsible, perhaps we should explain to the people in Gaza that one should not marry their first cousin or relatives in general... Even if Mohammed (the 'Prophet') is said to have done so," says Tobias Huch on X.
The post is not only factually baseless but also a clear attempt to shift blame away from Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where a devastating siege and constant bombardment have created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history.
Huch’s remarks were made at a time when children in Gaza are dying from starvation, not genetics. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 147 people—including 88 children—have died from hunger since October 2023, as Israel’s blockade severely restricts the entry of food, water, medicine, and other necessities.
Huch’s post dangerously ignores the real causes of death and suffering—namely, military attacks, forced displacement, and the deliberate destruction of health and civilian infrastructure—and instead invokes orientalist and Islamophobic tropes to justify the status quo.
Medical and humanitarian experts have long rejected the idea that hereditary illness is the primary cause of child mortality in Gaza, emphasizing instead the impact of war trauma, malnutrition, lack of clean water, and collapsed healthcare.
Huch’s comments have drawn fierce criticism as an example of dehumanizing rhetoric that seeks to rationalize or minimize the suffering of Palestinians under siege.
His language is not only considered deeply offensive but also dangerous, as it reinforces harmful stereotypes and normalizes the violation of basic human rights.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly denied the existence of famine in Gaza, despite overwhelming evidence.
Observers point out that figures like Tobias Huch amplify these denials, acting as enablers of policies that international legal experts increasingly describe as collective punishment or even genocide.
Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming that “there is no hunger in Gaza,” the situation on the ground tells a different story.
Local and international observers emphasize that Israel is using hunger and thirst as weapons, severely restricting the entry of humanitarian aid.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's military campaign and blockade have turned Gaza into a humanitarian disaster zone:
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