Israeli actions in Gaza ‘incomprehensible,’ says Germany’s Merz, as EU chief slams ‘abhorrent’ strikes on civilian facilities in Strip during call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes part in a discussion in Berlin on May 26, 2025. (Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)
German leaders significantly ramped up criticism of Israel on Tuesday, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz decrying massive IDF airstrikes on Gaza as Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned Berlin would soon 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 said at a leaders summit 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 — what is currently happening is no longer comprehensible.”
The chancellor said he planned to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that week regarding Gaza. He did not reply to a question about German weapons exports to Israel, and a government official told a briefing that this is a matter for a security council presided over by Merz.
The comments marked a substantial change of tone from Berlin, which has long been Israel’s strongest defender in Europe.