Friedrich Merz accuses Israel of disproportionate violence in Gaza

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has clearly criticized the Israeli approach in the Gaza Strip. “The civilian population to disassemble as in the past few days is no longer a struggle with a fight against Hamas terrorism,” said the CDU politician at the “WDR Europe DORUM 2025” at the digital conference Re: Publica in Berlin.

Germany has to hold back to Israel as far as no other country in the world with public advice, he added. “But if boundaries are exceeded, where humanitarian international law is now really violated, then Germany also has to say, then the German Federal Chancellor also has to say something.”

Merz emphasized the partnership between Germany and Israel. “But the Israeli government must not do anything that at some point its best friends are no longer willing to accept.”

In January, Germany had exported weapons worth two million euros to Israel. According to the federal government, this included parts for tanks and other military vehicles. In 2023, the federal government allowed exports worth 326 million euros to Israel, in 2024 it was 161 million euros. In the past, Germany also delivered weapons of war to Israel to a smaller extent, for example tank weapons or ammunition. Since October 7, 2023, helmets, protective vests and means of communication have been delivered. There was no export stop, the government emphasized in the past.

The increasingly ruthless approach of the Israeli government in Gaza and the displacement of the Palestinians announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, also increasingly put the Federal Government under pressure. So far, the main thing in Berlin had been awaited, more humanitarian aid – and still exported weapons to Israel.

So it could be over soon. Influential SPD MPs are now asking the federal government to stop German arms exports to Israel in view of possible war crimes in Gaza. “German weapons must not be used to spread humanitarian disasters and to break international law,” said the foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Adis Ahmetovic, the star on Sunday. “That is why we are calling Netanyahu’s government to be willing to take ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.”

Experienced foreign politician Ralf Stegner manifests itself in a similar way: “The humanitarian catastrophe for the Palestinian civilian population and the break of international law by the Netanyahu government must immediately end and must not be extended with German weapons.” So far, for good reasons, the Federal Government for Israel has made an exception to the practice not to deliver weapons to conflict areas. This served Israel’s security and defense. “There can currently be no question of this in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank,” said Stegner that star. HONERNOT and misery of Palestinian children had nothing to do with the fight against terrorism.

The SPD party leadership is also under pressure from the party base. At the weekend, for example, a first application was decided at the SPD Berlin state party conference, which requires the stop of all arms deliveries to Israel. Similar applications in other national associations are in the works, and the topic is also to be debated at the Federal Party Congress in June. The Berlin SPD member of the Bundestag Hakan Demir tells him star In addition: “It is wrong to deliver weapons – given the doubts about compliance with international law.”

The Baden-Württemberg SPD member of the Bundestag Isabel Cademartori now warns that Germany could participate in war crimes in view of the Israeli government’s procedure. “This could lead to Germany itself being legally prosecuted by international courts,” said Cademartori. “The German Federal Government should limit arms exports, especially armored ammunition and spare parts are no longer allowed to be delivered.” There may only be exceptions for the rocket protection screen “Iron Dome”.

After a fragile ceasefire at the beginning of the year, the Israeli government recently announced that they want to wipe out Hamas militarily. At the beginning of May, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu also issued the permanent occupation of the Gaza Strip as the destination. The Palestinians are to be relocated to other countries. Since March, Israel had previously imposed a complete blockage of the coastal area and had not left any food. Aid organizations repeatedly warned of a hunger disaster. A few days ago, the government opened the blockade after international pressure, but only had a few trucks into the area with food.