Germany threatens ‘steps’ against Israel, calling Gaza situation ‘unbearable’

German leaders are significantly ramping up criticism of Israel, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticizing massive airstrikes on Gaza as no longer justified by the need to fight Hamas and foreign minister Johann Wadephul warning Berlin will discuss what steps to take to deal with the “unbearable” situation.

“The massive military strikes by the Israelis in the Gaza Strip no longer reveal any logic to me. How they serve the goal of confronting terror. … In this respect, I view this very, very critically,” Merz says in Turku, Finland.

“I am also not among those who said it first … But it seemed and seems to me that the time has come when I must say publicly, (that) what is currently happening is no longer comprehensible.”

The chancellor plans to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week over Gaza. He does not reply to a question about German weapons exports to Israel, and a government official tells a briefing that this is a matter for a security council presided over by Merz.

Wadephul says he will speak to Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar later today, saying it is unacceptable that Gazans have no food or medicine.

“Our committed fight against antisemitism and our full support for the right to exist and the security of the state of Israel must not be instrumentalized for the conflict and the warfare currently being waged in the Gaza Strip,” Wadephul says in an interview with the WDR broadcaster.

“We are now at a point where we have to think very carefully about what further steps to take,” he adds, without giving further details.

Israel’s ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, acknowledges German concerns but makes no commitments.

“When Friedrich Merz raises this criticism of Israel, we listen very carefully because he is a friend,” Prosor tells the ZDF broadcaster.