BERLIN, May 26 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticised Israel's military operations in Gaza, saying they have increasingly harmed civilians and violated international humanitarian law.
Speaking at the WDR European Forum in Berlin, Merz said the scale of civilian harm in recent days could no longer be justified as part of Israel’s fight against terrorism, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
“What the Israeli army is doing now in the Gaza Strip, harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism,” he said.
The Chancellor acknowledged that Germany has historically been cautious in criticising Israel due to its past, but stressed that the current situation requires a clear stance.
“When boundaries are crossed, where international humanitarian law is truly violated, Germany and the German chancellor must also say something about it,” he said.
Merz added that he intends to raise these concerns directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their upcoming talks this week.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
