In a significant departure from its historically steadfast support for Israel, Germany has signaled a shift in its foreign policy stance, threatening unspecified measures in response to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.

According to the Jerusalem Post, this change, articulated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, reflects growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the region and aligns with broader international criticism of Israel’s actions.

The remarks come amid a backdrop of escalating violence, with dozens killed in recent Israeli airstrikes and Gaza’s population of over 2 million facing worsening hunger and starvation, according to a U.N.-backed monitor.

Germany’s leadership has long adhered to a policy of special responsibility toward Israel, known as Staatsräson, rooted in the country’s historical accountability for the Nazi Holocaust.

However, recent statements from German officials indicate a reevaluation of this stance. Speaking at a press conference in Turku, Finland, Chancellor Merz criticized Israel’s military actions, stating, “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.”

He further described the airstrikes as “no longer comprehensible” and unjustified in the context of fighting Hamas, marking a sharp departure from Germany’s traditional alignment with Israel.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed these sentiments in an interview with broadcaster WDR, warning that Germany’s historic support for Israel “must not be instrumentalised” to justify the current warfare in Gaza.

He described the humanitarian situation in the region as “unbearable,” citing massive airstrikes and shortages of food and medicines.

Wadephul also indicated that Berlin would not export weapons used to violate humanitarian law, hinting at potential restrictions on arms exports to Israel, though no specific measures were detailed.

The Gaza conflict, reignited after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, has seen significant escalation in 2025.

A ceasefire that briefly held in January collapsed in March, with Israeli airstrikes resuming and killing over 400 Palestinians in a single day, one of the deadliest tolls since the war’s onset, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The Israeli military has justified these operations as targeting Hamas infrastructure, but the high civilian toll and worsening humanitarian conditions have drawn international condemnation.

Efforts to revive the ceasefire, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, have shown little progress, though a regional diplomat noted ongoing talks in Doha.

Germany’s criticism is particularly striking given Chancellor Merz’s earlier pledge, during his February 2025 election campaign, to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in defiance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

Merz’s recent remarks, however, suggest a growing unease with Israel’s military strategy, particularly as the civilian death toll mounts and Gaza faces a deepening hunger crisis.

Germany’s shift aligns with a broader trend among Western nations.

The European Union is reviewing its Israel policy, while Britain, France, and Canada have also threatened “concrete actions” in response to the Gaza situation.

In the United States, Israel’s closest ally, support appears to be wavering, with the U.S. blaming Hamas for the ceasefire’s collapse but facing domestic criticism over its backing of Israel.

Domestically, German public opinion is also shifting. A recent survey by Civey, published in the Tagesspiegel, found that 51% of Germans oppose weapons exports to Israel.

Additionally, a Bertelsmann Foundation survey conducted in May 2025 revealed that only 36% of Germans view Israel positively, down from 46% in 2021, and just 25% recognize a special responsibility toward Israel, compared to 64% of Israelis who believe Germany has such an obligation.

Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, acknowledged the criticism, noting, “When Friedrich Merz raises this criticism of Israel, we listen very carefully because he is a friend.” However, Prosor offered no commitments in response to Germany’s concerns.