Merz opposes suspending EU-Israel agreement over Gaza

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Germany opposes any move to override or terminate the European Union’s association agreement with Israel, despite calls from other EU countries to review the pact over alleged human rights violations in Gaza.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made clear that the German government is against reexamining or ending the European Union’s association agreement with Israel over possible breaches of human rights obligations in Gaza. “An overriding or even a termination of this agreement is out of the question with the federal [German] government,” Merz said in a speech in the Bundestag on Tuesday.

The European Commission recently launched an investigation into whether Israel may have violated its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, after a majority of EU member states requested a review in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also pushed back against calls to suspend the agreement during a meeting with his counterparts earlier this week, stating that the bloc “needs good relations with Israel.” This position places Germany at odds with EU countries like Spain and Ireland, which have called for the immediate suspension of the pact.

No immediate action was taken after EU foreign ministers discussed the Israel issue on Monday, but the matter is expected to resurface at their next meeting in July. Legal experts note that while a total suspension of the agreement requires unanimity, it may be possible to suspend only the trade-related parts of the pact with a qualified majority of EU member states.

Although Merz has recently voiced criticism of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, Germany remains one of Israel’s staunchest supporters. This was evident after Israel conducted strikes on Iran, with Merz saying, “There is no reason for us and also for me personally to criticize what Israel started a week ago,” at an industry summit in Berlin on Monday.

On Tuesday, Merz also called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and advocated for the “humane treatment” of civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly.

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