• Chancellor Merz visits Israel, aiming to reaffirm Germany's support amid strained ties.
• Merz's public criticism of Israel's military actions contrasts with traditional German foreign policy.
• Merz emphasizes the importance of humanitarian aid and a two-state solution with the Palestinian Authority.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Israel on December 6, marking his first visit since taking office in May 2023. The visit comes at a time when the traditionally strong ties between Germany and Israel have been tested amid Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 70,000 Palestinians, according to health ministry figures that various rights organizations deem credible. Merz previously criticized Israel's actions as "breaches of international humanitarian law," making this visit particularly complex in the current geopolitical climate, according to thelocal and indiatimes.

During a stopover in Jordan before arriving in Israel, Merz held discussions with King Abdullah II, centering on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a negotiated two-state solution. This underscores Germany's commitment not only to Israel but also to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of Palestinians, signaling a dual approach in their foreign policy, as stated by both aljazeera and lemonde.

On December 7 in Jerusalem, Merz is expected to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Given the historical context of the Holocaust and the ongoing conflict, Merz's visit is intended to reaffirm Germany's "unchanging core principle" of support for Israel. Despite notable strains in relations, he aims to convey continued solidarity, despite recent criticisms of Israeli military strategies, according to thelocal and aljazeera.

Merz's government had temporarily suspended military exports to Israel that could contribute to the conflict but lifted these restrictions following a ceasefire agreement. Since then, over 350 Palestinians have continued to lose their lives despite the ceasefire, raising flags of concern regarding Israel's compliance with humanitarian norms, reports indiatimes and lemonde.

As tensions over Israel's actions remain high, Merz has faced criticism for meeting with Netanyahu, who faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes. Observers note that this meeting could signal a troubling normalization of relations with a government engaged in controversial military actions. This has been highlighted by voices from numerous rights organizations and political critics, as detailed by aljazeera and thelocal.