German Chancellor and his Foreign Minister issues harshest rebuke yet to Israel

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday issued his strongest rebuke yet to Israel, criticizing the intensified airstrikes on Gaza, saying they could no longer be justified as a means of fighting the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and were no longer logical.

These comments, made during a press conference in Finland, reflect a broader shift in public opinion as well as a greater willingness among senior German politicians to criticize Israel’s conduct since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.

From his part, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has made similar criticisms, and calls are mounting from the Social Democratic Party, the junior partner in the ruling coalition, to halt arms exports to Israel for fear of Germany facing accusations of complicity in war crimes.

On Tuesday, Wadephul sharply criticized Israel for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

“Germany won’t show solidarity with you by force,” he said, adding, “It’s absolutely unacceptable that the people of Gaza aren’t receiving food or medicine”.

He also confirmed that he would “contact the Israeli Foreign Minister later, as the situation is unbearable”.

Wadephul considered that the current phase “requires us to seriously consider any new steps that need to be taken”.

Although the shift in tone doesn’t represent a complete breakdown in German-Israeli relations, its significant in a country whose leadership pursues a policy of special responsibility toward Israel and a commitment to its security and national interests due to the legacy of the Nazi Holocaust.

Germany, along with the United States, is a staunch supporter of Israel, but Merz’s remarks come as the European Union reviews its policies toward Israel, and Britain, France, and Canada have threatened to take concrete action regarding Gaza.

“The massive Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip no longer make sense to us… How do they serve the goal of combating terrorism?… In this regard, I view this matter with extreme opposition,” Merz said during his visit to Finland.

He added, “I am also not among those who took the initiative to say this… but it seems to me that the time has come to say publicly that what is happening now no longer makes sense”.

These comments are particularly significant given that Merz won the February elections by pledging to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on German soil in defiance of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Chancellor Merz hangs a photo in his chancellery of Zikim Beach, where Hamas fighters arrived by boat during the 2023 attack that killed approximately 1,200 people, according to Israeli statistics.

The German chancellor intends to speak with Netanyahu this week, at a time when Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed dozens in recent days and the territory’s two million residents face the threat of famine.

He didn’t respond to a question about German arms exports to Israel, with a government official telling a press conference that this was a matter for the Security Council, chaired by Merz.

Israeli Ambassador to Berlin Ron Prosor acknowledged German concerns on Tuesday but didn’t comment.

“When Friedrich Merz raises this criticism of Israel, we listen carefully because he is a friend,” the Israeli ambassador told German ZDF channel.