German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz has taken an unusual step of criticizing Israel for its actions in Gaza.
Speaking at an annual summer press conference, Merz said that Israel’s approach to Gaza is “no longer acceptable.”
It was his first summer press conference since taking the oath of office in May.
The Chancellor called for an immediate ceasefire in the beleaguered enclave as the death toll there surpassed 58,000 this week.
He also called for more humanitarian assistance for those in Gaza — something that has been gravely hampered by Israel’s decision to boot all international aid programs out of Gaza in favor of the highly controversial US-run and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which critics have called a cynical death trap for desperate Gazans seeking to find food for their families.
Merz said that he is in regular contact with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and that he has offered to increase German aid to the enclave.
Merz also noted that his government “does not support” Israel’s settlement policy. He noted that he raised these concerns during his phone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and affirmed he would continue his diplomatic efforts to address the situation.
“I discussed this yesterday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. I will address it again next week when French President Emmanuel Macron visits Berlin.
“It’s clear where we stand. We are doing everything we can to do right by both sides [Israel and Palestinians in Gaza].”
Friedrich Merz
Merz said that “the state of Israel would cease to exist” if it didn’t defend itself. He added that at the same time, “We see the suffering of the Palestinian people and we are also trying to do all we can to deliver humanitarian assistance.”
Germany, due to what it refers to as its historical responsibility toward the state of Israel, has been one of its staunchest supporters during its war in Gaza, providing significant diplomatic and military support.
“We want to help the country (Israel), but we also state clearly and unequivocally what is unacceptable, and what is currently happening there (Gaza) is no longer acceptable.”
Friedrich Merz
Merz Rejects Calls For Suspension of EU Association Agreements
Nonetheless, Merz brushed off calls for the suspension of EU association agreements with Israel as well as firmly rejecting any equivalency between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s approach to Gaza — stating that Russia had launched a war of aggression, whereas Israel was defending itself against Hamas.
Merz also spoke on various issues during his press conference.
Israel launched its military operations in Gaza and the wider Middle East after the Gaza-based Islamist group Hamas — listed as a terror organization by Israel, the US, EU and others — launched a surprise attack on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and with another 250 being taken hostage.
Israel has killed more than 58,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to figures from the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave.
The UN considers the figures largely reliable, but an independent survey published in the journal Nature in late June said the death toll was likely closer to 84,000.
Israel currently faces a genocide case at the ICJ for its actions in Gaza, where at least 1.9 million Palestinians remain displaced and suffer from severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and other essentials.
