Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) defended Germany's non-participation in a call by 28 states for an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip. "We took precisely this position long ago in the European Council," he said at a press conference with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Berlin on Tuesday.
The European Council's declaration, several weeks old, and the letter from more than two dozen states are "practically identical in content," Merz said. He "actively participated" in the European Council's text.
"I claim to have been one of the first to say clearly, even in Germany, that the conditions in Gaza are no longer acceptable," Merz continued. "I also want to urge the Israeli government, with great urgency, to stop the massive military interventions, to facilitate a ceasefire, and, above all, to facilitate humanitarian aid for the population there."
Initially, 25 countries, including Great Britain, France, and Italy, issued a joint statement on Monday calling for an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Three more countries and the EU Commission joined in on Tuesday. The suffering of the civilian population in the Palestinian territory has "reached new levels," the statement said.
The signatory countries call on Israel to "comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law" and to "immediately" lift restrictions on aid deliveries to the territory. Germany is not among the signatories. The SPD parliamentary group called on the federal government on Tuesday to also support the appeal.Merz now said there are "no differences of opinion" within the coalition. "We are in complete agreement on these issues."
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