BERLIN — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has condemned a plan by Israel’s government to undertake a major expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

“Even as friends, we cannot ignore this,” Wadephul said alongside his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar in Berlin on Thursday. “We reject this, because the settlement policy in this form is contrary to international law. It literally obstructs the two-state solution — and that is the solution that we as the German government continue to stand for.”

Last week, Israeli ministers announced they had approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the West Bank, amounting to a major expansion.

Wadephul’s criticism comes after Chancellor Friedrich Merz last week condemned Israel’s renewed offensive in the Gaza Strip in unusually strong terms for a leader of Germany — traditionally one of Israel’s closest allies — saying the extent of the harm to the civilian population “can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism.”

Wadephul also said more humanitarian aid must be allowed into the Gaza Strip and called for an end to the war.

“It is absolutely clear that Hamas must never again pose a threat to Israel,” he said. “But the fight against Hamas cannot be won in the long term by military means alone. The war in Gaza must therefore end.”

While German leaders have hardened their rhetoric on the Israeli government’s policies, it’s unclear whether Merz’s conservative-led government will make concrete policy changes.

Asked by a reporter whether Germany will continue to provide weapons to Israel, Wadephul answered with a simple “yes.”

Last week, Wadephul was quoted in German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung as saying that further arms deliveries to Israel would be subject to a review based on “whether what is happening in the Gaza Strip is compatible with international humanitarian law.”

Wadephul has since claimed that report was wrong, saying today that Germany’s stance on weapons deliveries to Israel was “not in doubt.” Wadephul also urged the EU not to review or end its association agreement with Israel, which has been in place since 2000.

Sa’ar defended his government’s offensive in Gaza.

“Only Hamas is responsible for the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians,” he said.
“Israel is serious in our will and our intent to achieve a deal.”

However, Sa’ar added, “pressure on Israel, attacks … threatening Israel with sanctions as some of other European countries are doing will not only not help this effort, but it will cause Hamas to harden its stance.”