Germany Condemns Gaza Strikes as 'Incomprehensible'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sharply criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza on Tuesday, declaring recent strikes "no longer comprehensible" and calling into question their justification as counterterrorism operations against Hamas.

Speaking from Turku, Finland, Merz said Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza “no longer reveals any logic… in how [they] serve the goal of confronting terror.” His remarks mark a significant departure from Germany’s long-standing diplomatic doctrine of unwavering support for Israel, rooted in post-Holocaust historical responsibility.

“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, what is currently happening is no longer comprehensible,” he stated.

Merz’s stance was echoed by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and elements within his coalition partner, the Social Democrats, who are pressing for an arms export suspension. With Gaza on the brink of famine and Israeli strikes reportedly killing dozens in recent days, Berlin faces calls to ensure it does not become complicit in potential war crimes.

Despite a photo of Zikim Beach—the Hamas attack entry point—hanging in the Chancellery, Merz avoided commenting on weapons shipments, which remain under the purview of Germany’s national security council.

German Public Opinion Shifts Sharply

Polls indicate a marked change in German attitudes: a Civey survey found 51% now oppose arms exports to Israel. A Bertelsmann Foundation study also showed that only 36% of Germans view Israel positively—down from 46% in 2021. In contrast, 64% of Israelis still believe Germany holds a special duty toward their country.

Germany’s antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein even called for a national conversation on whether Holocaust history should continue to justify all aspects of German-Israeli policy.

Israel Responds Cautiously

Israel’s ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, acknowledged Merz’s remarks, saying, “When Friedrich Merz raises this criticism of Israel, we listen very carefully because he is a friend.” Still, Tel Aviv made no pledges to alter its campaign or address German concerns directly.

Historians like Moshe Zimmermann argue the shift marks a reckoning among Germany’s political elite, long constrained by the weight of WWII history: “Pressure from below is forcing the political class to reconsider.”