Merz emphasises Germany's support for Israel and calls for ceasefire in Gaza

Published on 24/06/2025 - 15:36 GMT+2

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a wide-ranging authorities connection connected Tuesday successful which he said nan country's "reason of state" is to take sides Israel's existence, condemned Russia's attacks successful Ukraine, and called for a ceasefire successful Gaza.

Addressing lawmakers successful nan Bundestag up of nan NATO acme astatine The Hague, Merz said "we must ne'er get utilized to nan horrors of war", earlier going connected to speak astir Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine, nan Israel-Hamas war, and nan Israel-Iran conflict.

Germany's chancellor said Israel "has a correct to take sides its beingness and nan information of its citizens" against Iran, and that Germany's "reason of authorities is to take sides nan authorities of Israel successful its existence". He besides told parliament that Iran "must not person atomic weapons".

"Today, we dream that nan actions of Israel and nan US successful nan past fewer days will permanently dissuade Iran from continuing its destructive course," Merz said, referring to US President Donald Trump's determination to onslaught Iranian atomic accommodation complete nan play successful a warfare that has now been raging for 12 days.

Merz emphasised that nan EU and nan wider world are "threatened" by Iran's atomic programme, and said Germany would undertake negotiated efforts successful a bid to extremity nan conflict pinch Israel.

The German chancellor besides promised to find a humanitarian solution to Israel's warfare successful Gaza, and called for a ceasefire.

"The infinitesimal has travel to reason a ceasefire for Gaza," he said. While Germany would proceed to support Israel, it besides will "critically mobility what extremity Israel wants to execute successful nan Gaza Strip", according to Merz.

In his speech, Merz besides condemned Russia's latest airstrikes connected Ukraine and said that Moscow does not want peace.

"Genuine, lasting bid requires a willingness for bid connected each sides," he said. "Russia, connected nan different hand, has made it clear successful a barbaric measurement pinch its caller activity of attacks connected nan Ukrainian civilian organization that it does not presently person this willingness for peace."

Earlier connected Tuesday, Germany's Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil vowed to assistance nan country's defence spending to 3.5% of gross home merchandise successful 2029.

At nan NATO acme astatine The Hague connected Tuesday and Wednesday, personnel states are expected to work together to raise defence spending from 2% of GDP to 3.5%, positive different 1.5% for perchance defence-related infrastructure.

Merz told lawmakers successful his reside that expanding defence spending and beefing up nan country's subject is captious to Germany's future.

On nan taxable of home affairs, Merz promised to tackle migration and said that EU personnel states are agreed successful nan position that tariffs are damaging to nan bloc.

The European Commission is group to statesman negotiations pinch nan US connected tariffs successful July, and Merz stated that respective options person been prepared successful lawsuit nan talks are not successful.

"The EU and tin and will take sides its interests," Merz said, earlier adding that he believed nan US has economical reasons to proceed moving pinch Germany and Europe.