German Chancellor Merz Slams Israel’s Gaza Offensive, Says He Can No Longer Support Netanyahu’s Government
In rare criticism, Merz questions Israel’s military objectives and warns of humanitarian law violations in Gaza.
Watan-German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly criticized Israel’s intensifying assault on the Gaza Strip on Monday, stating that he no longer understands the goals of the Israeli military and warning that he can no longer support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
In a radio interview, Merz said:“Frankly, I no longer understand what the Israeli army is doing now in Gaza, or what its goal is.”
He added:“The extent to which the civilian population has suffered—especially in recent days—can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas terrorism.”
Merz emphasized that Germany must remain cautious in offering public criticism of Israel, unlike with any other country in the world—a reference to Germany’s historical legacy from World War II.
“The question is: how clear should our criticism be? For historical reasons, I am more restrained,” he said.
Still, Merz asserted:“When limits are crossed, and when international humanitarian law is violated, then the German chancellor must also speak out publicly.”
In a rare and firm condemnation of Israel—one of Berlin’s closest allies alongside Washington—Merz stressed that he wants Germany to remain “Israel’s most important partner in Europe,” but warned:“The Israeli government must refrain from doing anything that even its closest friends are no longer willing to accept.”
Background Context
Merz made the remarks just one day after German State Minister for Foreign Affairs Florian Hahn called for an immediate end to what he described as Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, and urged a serious move toward implementing the two-state solution.
In a written statement released on Sunday before departing for Madrid and then occupied Jerusalem, Hahn said German foreign policy is now centered on two core issues:
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Ending the devastating war in Gaza as quickly as possible,
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Confronting the rising tide of antisemitism.
He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “intolerable”, and reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire and progress toward the two-state solution, which he called the only path to peace.
War Toll
Since October 7, 2023, Israel—backed unconditionally by the United States—has committed acts of genocide against civilians in Gaza. The ongoing war has resulted in over 176,000 people killed or wounded, most of them children and women, with more than 11,000 reported missing and hundreds of thousands displaced.
