Merkel: Israel Went Too Far in Gaza, But Coverage Lacks Proportion

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated her stance that Israel's security and right to exist are a "Staatsräson," a core German political and historical principle reflecting Berlin's historical responsibility toward the Jewish people. Speaking on a podcast, Merkel stated that any criticism of Israel must take this principle into account, acknowledging that while there are reasons to criticize the current Israeli government, particularly regarding Gaza, such criticism must be framed within Israel's security needs and right to exist.

Merkel, who visited the sites of the October 7th Hamas attack, emphasized that the date marked an attack on Israel by Hamas, not an Israeli offensive on Gaza. She strongly criticized the far-left in Berlin for their stance on Israel and warned of the existential threat posed by Iran, Hamas, and their proxies.

Recalling Israel's 2005 disengagement from Gaza, Merkel noted that Hamas's objective, as demonstrated on October 7th, was to annihilate Israel. She drew a parallel to the complex decisions leaders face, such as eliminating Hamas infrastructure beneath civilian areas like schools and hospitals, highlighting the difficult balance between protecting one's citizens and the consequences of military action.

However, Merkel conceded that "in many respects, especially concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israel went too far." She suggested there was room to openly discuss proportionality, particularly regarding civilian suffering and aid delivery. Merkel also questioned the lack of critical voices from Gaza regarding Hamas's actions post-October 7th, noting the increased danger to Gazans themselves.

Furthermore, Merkel described the media coverage of Israel as disproportionate and unbalanced compared to other global conflict zones, citing the lack of similar attention to the suffering in Yemen and Sudan, where millions of children face starvation.