News / Palestine / Germany

German chancellor slams Gaza school massacre as humanitarian tragedy, political catastrophe

Monday, 26 May 2025 6:14 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 26 May 2025 6:22 PM ]

A woman checks the damage at the Fahmi al-Jarjaoui School in Gaza City on May 26, 2025, following an Israeli strike. (Photo by AFP)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has denounced the latest Israeli air strikes on a school building sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, which killed at least 35 Palestinians, labeling the assault as a humanitarian tragedy and a political catastrophe.

“I have to say that what happened this weekend — when another kindergarten in the Gaza Strip was hit — is a human tragedy and a political catastrophe,” Merz said during his speech on Monday at the European Forum organized by West German Broadcasting (WDR).

He added that the German government is in contact with Israeli officials to raise concerns about the military offensive.

Merz also sharply criticized the Tel Aviv regime for violating international humanitarian law in Gaza, and said he would raise these concerns with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week.

He stated that the Israeli military onslaught has gone far beyond acceptable limits and that its objective is no longer clear, emphasizing that the suffering of the civilian population cannot be justified.

Exclusive: British doctor says recent aid delivery to Gaza ‘a drop in the ocean’

Victoria Rose, a British senior plastic and reconstructive surgeon on a mission to Gaza, has called for adequate humanitarian aid to be allowed into the strip.

Merz acknowledged that Germany has been reluctant so far to publicly criticize Israel due to its historical responsibility.

However, he emphasized that he can no longer understand any military objectives in Israel's current actions.

“When boundaries are crossed, where international humanitarian law is truly violated, Germany and the German chancellor must also say something about it,” Merz pointed out.

At least 53,977 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 122,966 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the health ministry of Gaza.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

Palestine Middle East Germany war crimes school Chancellor humanitarian tragedy Gaza City Israeli air strikes Israeli military offensive Friedrich Merz