German chancellor criticises Israel's actions in Gaza

(Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised Israel's actions in Gaza on Monday, saying the extent of harm being done to the civilian population could no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas' terrorism.

"When boundaries are crossed, where humanitarian international law is really being violated, then Germany too, then the German chancellor too must say something about it," Merz told broadcaster WDR in a televised interview.

Germany has staunchly backed Israel's right to defend itself since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023 that triggered the war, reflecting what it sees as its duty to stand by the country in atonement for its own role in the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews died.

But German government officials have increasingly stressed the need for Israel to adhere to international law in its response to the Hamas attacks, while mostly avoiding outright criticism of its actions in the Palestinian territories.

Merz, who has been in office for about three weeks, said: "The Israeli government must not do anything that, at some point, even its best friends are no longer willing to accept."

He added: "What the Israeli army is doing now in the Gaza Strip, frankly speaking, I no longer understand with what goal."

The chancellor said he planned to hold a call with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to tell him "to not overdo it," though he added that for "historical reasons" Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some of its European partners.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger, Kirsti Knolle, editing by Rachel More and Hugh Lawson)