German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who entered his position earlier this month, slammed Israel this week, making the harshest statements against the Jewish state about the war in Gaza ever made by a senior official of the country where the Holocaust originated.

Merz said that he “no longer understands what the Israeli army is doing now in the Gaza Strip, and what its goal is. The harassment of the civilian population, as has been increasing in recent days can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,” he claimed

“When red lines are crossed, when international humanitarian law is violated, then even a German chancellor must respond,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, responded to Merz’s remarks on German TV, first saying that “Israel is listening to what Merz says. Because he is a friend of Israel, we take his words seriously, unlike those who constantly criticize Israel one-sidedly.”

“But it is also clear that Israel cannot accept a second Hamas terror state after October 7,” he said.

“Israel cannot rebuild anything as long as the Hamas terror organization still exists,” Prosor asserted, responding to Merz’s claim that Israel’s actions in Gaza have no purpose. “They don’t want land, they want to eliminate us,” he emphasized.

Prosor noted that Hamas continued to threaten Israel: “This morning Hamas fired rockets at Israel again.”

“We have a dilemma: We are supposed to simultaneously rescue the hostages, supply the population in Gaza, and fight the terrorists. In Gaza, Hamas converted schools into weapons depots, mosques into barracks, and hospitals into command centers. There are no easy solutions to complex problems. Anyone who criticizes Israel must take this reality into account.”

Proser also slammed the European countries, such as France, which are calling to recognize a Palestinian state: “This would mean a reward for Hamas after the massacre,” he said.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)