Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip "can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas terrorism," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, quoted by DPA, BTA reported.
Merz told a conference in Berlin that Germany should exercise more restraint than any other country when commenting on Israel. "But if lines are crossed where international humanitarian law is really being violated," then Germany, the German Chancellor, must also say something about it," Merz continued.
He stressed the close relationship between Germany and Israel, but added that "the Israeli government should not do anything that its best friends are not already prepared to accept." Merz highlighted the suffering that the civilian population in Gaza has been experiencing in recent days.
Israel has launched a new offensive in the Palestinian enclave, with dozens of deaths reported daily in the war-torn coastal territory.
Israel's actions have been condemned around the world. There have also been warnings that 2 million Palestinians in Gaza face the risk of starvation due to Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to the enclave.