Summary
- German Chancellor Merz calls the Gaza crisis
"unacceptable."
- Germany plans humanitarian aid airdrops to Gaza.
- Urges Israel to ease Gaza humanitarian suffering.
- Considers stronger EU-Israel policy measures.
- Berlin coordinates with international partners for relief.
Germany has been one of the EU nations to oppose sanctions on Israel in spite of the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
“One thing is clear to us: The situation there is unacceptable. It must end as quickly as possible. As long as it (this conflict) continues, at least a minimum of aid, medical assistance, and food aid must be guaranteed for the population. And Israel, of course, bears a considerable degree of responsibility for this,”
Merz told journalists in the
southwestern city of Saarbruecken.
This was among the factors that prevented EU states from reaching a consensus on a plan put out by the
European Commission. The Commission suggested that Israel's involvement in the
Horizon Europe research financing program be temporarily halted.
Merz said his government will soon make a decision on how to proceed with the war in Gaza. When Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul returns from his trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Saturday, he anticipates receiving a report.
“We will await this report and make all further decisions,”
the chancellor said when asked whether the German government could
imagine participating in sanctions against Israel.
The government had already discussed in the Security Cabinet last Monday.
“how we might proceed together with our European partners,”
he added.
Due to what international human rights
organizations claim is a genocide in Gaza, pressure is growing on Germany's
center-right government to take a more aggressive stand against Israel.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has been
waging a bloody onslaught in Gaza, murdering well more than 60,200
Palestinians. Food shortages have resulted from the enclave's destruction due
to the ceaseless shelling.
Israeli rights organizations Physicians for
Human Rights-Israel and B'Tselem charged Israel on Monday with committing
genocide in Gaza, pointing to the willful breakdown of the region's healthcare
system and the systematic annihilation of Palestinian society.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were both wanted by the International
Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza last
November.
Because of its war on the enclave, Israel is also facing a genocide prosecution at the International Court of Justice.
How is Germany balancing its support for Israel’s security with concern for Palestinian civilians in Gaza?
Germany sees recognition of a Palestinian state
as a final step that should happen only after a negotiated two-state peace
process begins and progresses. It is not recognizing Palestine unilaterally now
but insists on the initiation of talks to achieve lasting peace and security
for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The government continues to provide support for
the Palestinian Authority and encourages humanitarian aid and reconstruction
efforts in Gaza, alongside calls for Israel to improve conditions for
civilians.
Germany has criticized Israel when international
humanitarian law is violated and cautions against annexation steps in the West
Bank, making clear that its support for Israel’s security is not unconditional.