German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Israel on Saturday evening for his first official visit since taking office. This trip aimed to reaffirm Germany’s support after relations between the two countries were shaken by the Gaza war.

He landed at Ben Gurion Airport just before 8:00 pm. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed him and called him “a friend of Israel”. He also said Germany was “an important partner”.

Later that evening, Merz met President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.

“I consider it a great honour and a truly great distinction to be here and to reaffirm that standing by this country is and will remain the unchanging core principle of the Federal Republic of Germany’s policy,” said Merz.

Stopover in Jordan Focuses on Peace

Before arriving in Israel, Merz made a short stop in Jordan. There, he held talks with King Abdullah II. They mainly discussed the fragile peace situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Merz later told reporters that both Germany and Jordan continue to support a negotiated two-state solution.

At the same time, he called for more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. He also urged Hamas fighters to lay down their weapons. “There can be no place for terrorism and antisemitism in this shared future,” Merz said.

Jordan’s royal palace later confirmed that the king emphasised “the need to commit to implementing all stages of the agreement to end the war and deliver humanitarian aid to all areas of the Strip”.

The king also warned about “the danger of continued Israeli escalations in the West Bank”, which has been under Israeli control since 1967.

Hamas Offers Conditioned Disarmament

On the same day, Hamas issued a statement. It said it was ready to hand over its weapons in Gaza to a Palestinian authority — but only if the Israeli occupation ended.

“Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and the aggression… If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state,” Khalil al-Hayya said, as stated earlier in his remarks.

He also said, “We accept the deployment of UN forces as a separation force, tasked with monitoring the borders and ensuring compliance with the ceasefire in Gaza.”

However, he made it clear that Hamas would not accept an international force that aimed to disarm it.

Holocaust Memorial Visit and Netanyahu Meeting

On Sunday, Merz is scheduled to visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. After that, he will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Germany has long supported Israel strongly because of its history during World War II, when Nazi Germany killed millions of Jews. This history shaped Germany’s foreign policy for decades.

However, relations were strained during the Gaza war that followed the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. That attack killed 1,221 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.

Merz Criticises Gaza Campaign but Supports Israel’s Right to Defend

Despite historical support, Merz openly criticised Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. He said the ongoing attacks have caused major concerns in Germany.

More than 69,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The United Nations has described those figures as credible.

In August, Merz restricted weapons exports that could be used in Gaza. But after a fragile US-backed ceasefire, Germany lifted those restrictions.

Even after the ceasefire, local authorities said more than 350 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers were killed. “The actions of the Israeli army in Gaza have posed some dilemmas for us (and) we have responded to them,” Merz said. “But… Israel has the right to defend itself.”

Strong Support in Eurovision Dispute

Recently, some European broadcasters suggested removing Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest because of the war. Merz strongly objected to this idea. He described such a move as “scandalous”. Berlin later welcomed the decision to allow Israel to take part in the event.

No Official Invitation for Netanyahu Yet

Even though Merz previously said he would invite Netanyahu, German officials confirmed that there are no current plans to bring him to Berlin. Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Earlier this year, Merz told the Israeli leader that he would not be arrested if he visited Germany.

Military Cooperation Remains Strong

Despite political differences, military cooperation continues. Germany recently activated the first phase of the Arrow missile defence system, which Israel designed and built. This $4.5 billion deal is believed to be the largest arms export in Israeli history.

Merz Talks to Palestinian Leader Abbas

Before leaving Germany, Merz also spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. A spokesman said Merz confirmed Germany’s support for a two-state solution. However, he also called on Abbas to carry out “urgently necessary reforms” in order to play a “constructive role” after the war.