Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a tense conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday after the latter announced a partial arms embargo on Israel due to its plan to conquer Gaza City, Army Radio reported.

Following the conversation, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement saying, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and expressed his disappointment with Merz’s decision to embargo arms to Israel.”

“Instead of supporting Israel’s just war against Hamas, which carried out the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel.”

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s goal is not to take over Gaza but to free Gaza from Hamas and enable a peaceful government to be established there.

Israeli defense officials are concerned but not panicked following Germany’s announcement, with security officials noting that Israel’s arms purchases from Germany are relatively limited compared to its purchases from the United States.

However, Germany does hold a strategic role in Israel’s military supply chain—it produces the Navy’s “Dolphin” submarines and the advanced Saar 6 missile ships, both with significant strategic capabilities. Germany is also a major supplier of spare parts for strategic weapons.

Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israel “is not going to occupy Gaza—we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.”

“Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization.”

“This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.”

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)