Germany: Israeli attacks on Gaza 'no longer comprehensible'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Israeli attacks on Gaza are no "longer comprehensible" and "can no longer be justified".

"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. ... In this respect, I view this very, very critically," Merz said in Turku, Finland.

"I am also not among those who said it first ... But it seemed and seems to me that the time has come when I must say publicly, (that) what is currently happening is no longer comprehensible."

German Foreign minister Johann Wadephul also said in an interview with the WDR broadcaster that Berlin's "full support for the right to exist and the security of the state of Israel must not be instrumentalised for the conflict and the warfare currently being waged in the Gaza Strip," 

The comments mark an abrupt shift from Germany's unwavering support of Israel since it launched its war on Gaza in October 2023.

Together with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Merz called for increased international pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza.

Sweden has summoned Israel’s ambassador to the country, urging Israel to allow aid into Gaza.