Angela Merkel: "Israel went too far in Gaza, but the coverage is disproportionate"

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a podcast that Israel went too far in Gaza on the humanitarian front, but the media coverage is disproportionate. She reiterated Germany's commitment to Israel's security, criticized the Netanyahu government and the far-left in Berlin, and emphasized that Hamas attacked on October 7.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in the podcast "Coffee and Curses" that Israel went too far in Gaza regarding the humanitarian situation, but the media coverage of the conflict is disproportionate compared to other war zones like Yemen and Sudan. Merkel reiterated the principle of "Staatsräson" – Germany's historic commitment to Israel's security and right to exist, and emphasized that criticism of Israel is permissible but must take this principle into account. She criticized the Netanyahu government and the far-left in Berlin, noting that Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and that Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Merkel described the dilemma of fighting militants hiding under civilian infrastructure, and stated that the media coverage is unbalanced.