In Turku, Finland, German politician Merz criticized Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, expressing deep concern for the civilian casualties. While he affirmed Germany's support for Israel’s right to exist and denounced Hamas' terrorism, he questioned the effectiveness of Israel's military strategy in combating terror and rescuing hostages taken during the October 7 attacks. Merz's remarks signaled a nuanced shift in Germany's stance on the conflict, reflecting a desire for more humanitarian aid, echoed by Finnish Prime Minister Orpo, who also condemned Israel's actions as unacceptable.
"We are deeply saddened by the fate and terrible suffering of the civilian population," Merz said, adding that he viewed the events of the past few days "very, very critically."
"I cannot see any logic anymore in the massive military strikes by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip as to how they serve the goal of fighting terror and freeing the hostages," he said.
"We are more than concerned about the intensification of the Israeli army's military activities in Gaza," Merz stated, emphasizing a shift in perspective on Israel’s actions.
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the Israeli actions "not at all acceptable," also advocating for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza residents.
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