German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticized Israel, saying that the way it is acting in the Gaza Strip is "no longer acceptable."
During a regular summer press conference, DW reports that Merz called for an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn enclave, where according to the Gaza Health Ministry the death toll this week exceeded 58.
Merz has also called for more humanitarian aid for Gaza residents, criticizing Israel's decision to expel all international aid programs and replace them with the US-run and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Critics have called the initiative a “cynical trap for the desperate seeking food.” Merz is also reported to have indicated that he is in regular contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has offered to increase German aid to Gaza.
"Yes, Israel would not exist if it did not defend itself. But we also see the suffering of the Palestinian people and are trying to provide as much humanitarian aid as possible," Merz said.
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