German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Israel for his first official visit since taking office in May 2025, seeking to reaffirm Germany’s historically strong ties with the country. However, relations have been tested amid Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has drawn widespread international scrutiny.

---

Arrival in Israel and Diplomatic Engagements

Merz landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport shortly before 8pm local time (18:00 GMT) on Saturday, where he was greeted by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who described him as “a friend of Israel” and emphasized Germany’s role as a key partner.

Following his arrival, Merz met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem and outlined Germany’s continued support for Israel while also expressing concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Before visiting Israel, Merz made a brief stop in Jordan, where he met with King Abdullah II to discuss the ongoing conflict and the need for humanitarian aid.

---

Merz’s Position on the Gaza Conflict

During his Middle East trip, Merz called for:

• Increased humanitarian aid to Gaza
• Hamas fighters to lay down their arms
• Renewed commitment to a negotiated two-state solution

Merz has consistently criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths. In August 2025, he moved to restrict German weapons exports to Israel for use in Gaza. Although Germany lifted those restrictions following a US-brokered ceasefire in October, Merz continues to advocate for careful monitoring of military aid.

---

Scheduled Visits and Memorials

During his visit, Merz is scheduled to:

• Visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem
• Meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
• Engage with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss reforms and Germany’s support for a post-war two-state framework

Given Germany’s historical responsibility for the Holocaust, German leaders have traditionally maintained strong support for Israel, making the visit highly symbolic despite recent tensions.

---

Controversy Surrounding the Visit

Merz’s trip has drawn criticism from human rights groups and political observers:

• Gil Shohat, head of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Tel Aviv, criticized the visit, saying Netanyahu is “a wanted war criminal” and that the trip risks normalizing actions that should not be normalized.
• Despite ongoing criticism, Germany continues key military cooperation with Israel, including the $4.5 billion Arrow missile defense system and drone defense collaboration.

Currently, there are no plans to invite Netanyahu to Berlin, although Merz has pledged that the Israeli leader would not face arrest if he visited.

---

Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

The United Nations and local authorities report that Israel has restricted humanitarian aid into Gaza despite the ceasefire. Since the agreement:

• Over 350 Palestinians have died
• Three Israeli soldiers have been killed
• Germany continues to push for increased aid and reconstruction support

Merz has underscored the importance of both sides engaging constructively and maintaining international oversight to ensure stability in the post-conflict order.