German Chancellor Is Under Pressure For Being Considered Inevitable To Israel

Children in Gaza/DOK PHOTOS IN UNRWA

JAKARTA - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure to take a firmer stance on Israel.

Its coalition members urged Berlin to join statements by dozens of Western countries condemning "humane killings" against Palestinians.

Merz, who leads Germany's right-handed CDU party, is increasingly critical of Israel. However, Germany was specifically absent from a joint statement issued on Monday, July 21, by the European Union and 28 Western countries, including Britain and France, calling on Israel to end the war immediately.

The countries condemned what they called gradual aid to Palestinians in Gaza and said "terrible" more than 800 civilians were killed while seeking help.

Reem Alabali Radovan, minister of international development in Merz's cabinet, said he was unhappy with Germany's decision not to sign a joint declaration.

"I can understand the demands in a letter from 29 partners to the Israeli government. I hope Germany joins the signal sent by the 29 partners," he said.

Merz's office said Germany's criticism of Israel was similar to other ally criticisms.

Merz said he had informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu very clearly and very explicitly that Germany disagreed with the Israeli government's policy in Gaza.

"Above all, we see the great suffering of civilians there. That is why I would like to once again reaffirm my call to truly provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip. The way the Israeli army operates there is unacceptable," Merz said.

Government spokesman Stefan airing said although Germany did not sign a joint declaration, Merz and his foreign ministers expressed a very critical view of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip.

Their statement is not at all inferior to a joint declaration," said Kriminal.

However, the decision not to sign this German joint declaration follows Germany's months-long efforts to publicly refrain from curbing criticism of Israel's actions.

German officials say their approach to Israel is governed by special responsibility, known as Staatsraesson, which emerged from the Nazi Holocaust heritage. They believe it can achieve more through diplomatic channels than public statements.

Germany's statement about Gaza usually includes demands for the immediate release of the hostages who ignite Hamas.

Merz's joint statement to be signed this week did not come to the demand, although the statement noted that the hostages were suffering from worsening conditions.

Merz is one of the few European leaders to publicly offer to accept Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without arresting him on warrants for alleged war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Israel rejects the accusations against Netanyahu and says the allegations are politically motivated.

The ICC stated that all the signatories to the founding of the court, which cover all 27 members of the European Union, must arrest Netanyahu if he enters their territory.