German Chancellor Shows Concern About Civilians in Gaza

Author: Luthfie Febrianto
May 28, 2025

Ilustrasi - Jalur Gaza porak poranda setelah 15 bulan diserbu Israel tanpa jeda. (ANTARA/Anadolu)

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's comments regarding the war in Gaza have attracted attention because they are considered a signal of a change in Germany's direction.

Germany is known to often express support for Israel regarding the conflict in Gaza because of their historical factors. This support is not only in the form of politics but also military.

However, recently, Merz, who was visiting Turku, Finland, made a slightly different comment.

"We are concerned about the fate of the civilian population and the terrible suffering experienced by the civilian population in Gaza," he said as reported by CNN.

The cause of Merz's comments on Israel is not yet clear. However, analyst from the German Institute of International and Security Affairs Peter Lintl believes that Merz wants to immediately work and start discussions with Israeli leaders and gain an understanding of the direction of travel before explaining his position.

"The conclusion is that most countries in the world have come to the conclusion that this is a terrible war whose goals are no longer clear," said Lintl.

“That (Merz’s comments, ed) is clearly a change in the tone and position of the German government,” he added.

Merz himself continued his comments by asking about the current actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza. This refers to Israel’s expansion operation and the humanitarian crisis there.

He said he “no longer sees any logic in how they serve the purpose of fighting terror and freeing hostages. In this regard, I take a very, very critical view of what has happened in the last few days.”