German Chancellor: "We support Israel, but won't help in Gaza occupation"

Germany's Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, issued a media statement after his decision to impose an "offensive" weapons embargo on Israel created a genuine political storm in the corridors of the German coalition.

Merz published a video in which he clarifies: "The German government continues and will continue to stand by the State of Israel and its right to defend itself. But we have a disagreement with the government's policy and planned moves - we are not prepared to assist in the occupation of the Gaza Strip."

The Chancellor announced the decision to impose the embargo surprisingly several days ago, in a manner that even shook his own coalition. Now it appears that Merz is trying to minimize damage, after creating an internal governmental storm.

Just today, the head of Merz's coalition partner party came out against his decision, saying it must pass through Germany's Supreme Security Committee before taking effect.

According to German historian Katja Hoyer, Merz's decision was driven by fear that his coalition would collapse, opening the way for the radical right party AfD to win. The leftwing SPD, once a stalwart defender of the Jewish state, has become ever more strongly anti-Israel since October 7 and has increasingly demanded that Merz impose some form of weapons embargo on Israel.

The practice significance of the embargo is likely to be minimal since Germany has already stopped selling any weapons Israel might use for operations in the Gaza Strip and mostly sells it strategic naval and missile technology which the IDF uses to deal with threats much farther afield, such as Iran. Nevertheless, the embargo announcement has caused Israel a significant diplomatic blow.