Germany decries Gaza toll while fueling war with weapons to 'Israel'
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Despite decrying the scale of civilian suffering in Gaza, Freidrich Merz insists that Germany should remain “Israel’s most important partner in Europe."
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German opposition leader and Christian Democratic Union party chairman Friedrich Merz watches the media at a joint news conference, in Berlin, Germany, on September 17, 2024 (AP)
In an unusually sharp rebuke, newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday he “no longer understands” what "Israel" hopes to achieve in Gaza, warning that the scale of civilian suffering “can no longer be justified” by counterterrorism claims.
Speaking to public broadcaster WDR, Merz questioned the goals of "Israel’s" military campaign, which has continued to kill and displace Palestinians with increasing intensity, saying he "no longer understand what the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip, with what goal," adding that the scale of civilian suffering in recent days “can no longer be justified by a fight against Hamas terrorism.”
Merz stressed Germany’s historical responsibility to "Israel", rooted in the legacy of the Holocaust, as a reason for caution in issuing criticism, but he also acknowledged that moral and legal boundaries were being crossed.
He emphasized that when “limits are crossed” and “international humanitarian law is violated,” it becomes the duty of the German chancellor to speak out.
He insisted that Germany should remain “Israel’s most important partner in Europe” but warned that "Israel" must not do anything that its "best friends are no longer willing to accept.”
Yet, weapons keep flowing
Germany’s dual stance, condemning the civilian toll in Gaza while continuing to arm the government responsible, exposes a growing contradiction at the heart of its foreign policy.
While Merz publicly warned of moral red lines, his government remains one of "Israel’s" key military suppliers. The result is a policy caught between history and reality: a nation voicing concern over Gaza’s devastation while materially enabling it.
Despite the Chancellor's alleged moral concerns, Germany’s official policy on arms remains unchanged. Just hours after Merz’s comments, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed that Berlin would continue supplying weapons to "Israel", even as calls grow across Europe for an embargo.
"As a country that understands Israel's security and existence as a core principle, Germany is always obliged to assist Israel in guaranteeing its security," Wadephul said during a joint press conference in Madrid with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares.
"That naturally includes being willing to supply weapons in the future," he added, citing Germany’s historic responsibility to "Israel" following the Holocaust.
Not in Spain's footsteps
Spain, one of the strongest critics of the aggression on Gaza, has called for a European-wide ban on arms exports to "Israel" and for the suspension of the EU-"Israel" cooperation agreement. Hosting a summit of 20 European and Arab states over the weekend, Albares accused "Israel" of trying to “turn Gaza into a huge cemetery.”
While reaffirming arms sales, Wadephul also condemned the humanitarian crisis, saying, “We must not ignore the fate” of Gazans, and rejected forced displacement and starvation as tactics.
