German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes part in a discussion on 'Wars, crises, chancellorship: German answers to European questions' on stage of the 'Re:Publica 25' fair ground during the opening of the 'Re:publica 25' digital conference in Berlin on May 26, 2025. Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP.
Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday he no longer understands the Israeli army's objective in Gaza amid a stepped-up offensive in the Palestinian territory.
"Honestly speaking, I no longer understand what the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip, with what goal," he told public broadcaster WDR.
"The way in which the civilian population has been affected, as has been increasingly the case in recent days, can no longer be justified by a fight against Hamas terrorism."
He said Berlin must be sparing in its public advice to Israel as with "no other country on earth", a reference to Germany's dark history of World War II and the Holocaust.
"The question is: How clearly do we voice criticism now, and for historical reasons I am more reserved," Merz said.
But he added that "when limits are crossed, when international humanitarian law is being violated... then the German chancellor must speak out too".
Merz said he wanted Germany to remain "Israel's most important partner in Europe".
"But the Israeli government must not do anything that its best friends are no longer willing to accept," he said.
