German Chancellor Merz Criticizes Israeli Gaza Offensive Amid Civilian Suffering

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has strongly criticized Israel's military offensive in Gaza, stating that the suffering of the civilian population can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas terrorism and expressing that he no longer supports Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. While emphasizing Germany's unique historical responsibility to exercise restraint in public criticism of Israel, Merz insisted that when international humanitarian law is violated, the German chancellor must speak out. Merz also affirmed Germany's commitment to remaining Israel's key European partner but warned that Israel must not take actions that even its closest allies find unacceptable. This criticism comes amid growing debate within Germany about the country's military support for Israel, with some Social Democratic Party lawmakers calling for an end to weapons exports, citing concerns over humanitarian impacts. German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul defended continued arms support to Israel as essential for its security, despite acknowledging the moral and political dilemmas posed by the Gaza conflict. The situation has sparked international concern regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including warnings about starvation due to Israel's blockade of aid.