Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany discusses the recent happenings in Gaza.
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the German government has taken a nuanced position, balancing support for Israel's right to self-defence with concerns for the humanitarian situation and the broader goals of the military actions.
Following Israel's decision to launch a military action in Gaza, the German government paused weapons exports specifically intended for use in Gaza. This move reflects their concern over the escalation of military action and the potential impact on the civilian population. However, Germany continues to support Israel's right to defend itself.
On the issue of humanitarian aid access, Germany has been vocal in its demands. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on Israel to drastically improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and allow UN and humanitarian organisations free operation. The German government emphasises the urgent need for full, immediate, safe, and impartial humanitarian assistance to reach the Gaza population.
Regarding the annexation of the West Bank, while the German government has not issued an explicit statement, their overall position indicates critical scrutiny of Israel's broader goals and treatment of the Palestinian population. Chancellor Merz has questioned what Israel aims to achieve and insists on more dignified treatment of people affected by the conflict. Germany also firmly aligns with Israel's existence and security, reflecting historical responsibility, but balances this with humanitarian considerations and calls for de-escalation.
In summary, the German government's position is as follows:
- Military action in Gaza: Support for Israel’s right to defend itself; paused weapons exports for use in Gaza; critical of plans to occupy Gaza entirely.
- Humanitarian aid access: Demands immediate, full, and safe access for humanitarian organisations; calls for drastic improvement in Gaza’s situation.
- Annexation of West Bank: No explicit statement on annexation; government critical of Israel's broader goals and treatment of Palestinians.
Germany's stance is clear: they are deeply concerned about the ongoing suffering of the civilian population in Gaza and prioritise focused negotiations towards a ceasefire and the disarming of Hamas. The German government also believes that disarming Hamas is indispensable. However, they urge Israel's government to refrain from any further steps towards annexing the West Bank.
Other than expressing support for Israel's right to self-defense during war-and-conflicts, the German government has advocated for general-news topics like improving humanitarian aid access and preventing annexation of territories. In particular, they demand immediate, full, and safe access for humanitarian organizations in Gaza, and urge against any further steps towards annexing the West Bank, believing that disarming Hamas is essential.
