• Chancellor Friedrich Merz sharply criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza for worsening civilian suffering.
• Germany's leadership reflects a shift in public opinion, with increased calls for reconsideration of arms exports to Israel.
• Recent polls indicate a notable decline in positive views of Israel among Germans.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced strong criticism regarding Israel's military operations in Gaza, expressing concerns about the humanitarian impact on civilians. “We are appalled by the terrible suffering of the civilian population there,” Merz stated, urging for a halt to military activities that he deemed "no longer comprehensible" in relation to combating terrorism, according to aa and Reuters.

Merz's comments were made during a press conference in Finland and reflect a broader shift within the German political landscape. This includes similar sentiments from Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who emphasized that unconditional solidarity with Israel was being questioned, particularly in light of humanitarian rights abuses stemming from the ongoing conflict. “What the Israeli army is doing in the Gaza Strip, I no longer understand the goal,” Merz said, encapsulating the sentiment of a growing number of German politicians and the public, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and Le Monde.

Public opinion in Germany is shifting as well, with recent surveys indicating a notable decline in the percentage of Germans who view Israel positively, dropping to 36% from 46% in recent years. This decline is juxtaposed against the backdrop of the European Union's reevaluation of its policies towards Israel and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 53,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, highlighting the escalating tensions within international relations, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

The potential implications of these changes were made clear through the discussions in Berlin, where calls were made to halt arms exports to Israel to avoid complicity in alleged war crimes. German leaders now find themselves navigating a complex landscape where their historic support for Israel is being challenged by a growing insistence on human rights considerations in their foreign policy, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and Le Monde.