Merz: Germany Will Confront Anyone Who Questions Israel's Right to Exist
In a message marking three years since the Hamas massacre, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany stands firmly with Israel, condemned the October 7 attack and voiced hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Kan reports.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz marked the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre with a pledge that Germany will stand firmly alongside Israel and confront those who question its right to exist. The message, reported by Kan in the early hours of October 7, also strongly condemned the Hamas attack and expressed hope that Israelis and Palestinians can one day live in peace and security.
What Merz said
According to Kan, Merz said Germany stands firmly by Israel and will stand against anyone who challenges its right to exist. He condemned the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023 in strong terms and said he hoped for a future of peace and security for both peoples, which he said a two state solution could bring.
The statement is a message of solidarity on a day of remembrance. It announces no new agreement, arms decision or sanctions.
Germany's special responsibility
German leaders have described Israel's security as part of Germany's reason of state since Angela Merkel used the phrase in the Knesset in 2008. Merz, who took office in 2025, has repeated that commitment while also drawing criticism in Israel for his government's partial restrictions on arms exports during the Gaza war and for pointed remarks about the humanitarian situation.
Against that background, the anniversary message is read in Jerusalem as a reaffirmation of the fundamental position: whatever the disagreements over the conduct of the war, Germany does not question Israel's existence and will oppose those who do.
The two halves of the message
Merz's words combine two elements that Israel's friends in Europe increasingly keep together: solidarity with Israel and support for a negotiated future with the Palestinians. For most Israelis the first is the one that matters on October 7, the day the country mourns the 1,200 people murdered and the 251 taken hostage. The second is a long standing German position rather than a new proposal.
Why it matters
Anniversary statements from foreign leaders are weighed in Israel against two years in which many European governments softened their support as the war went on. Germany has remained among the most steadfast, and its chancellor chose the anniversary to say so plainly. The phrase about confronting those who question Israel's right to exist is aimed at the campaigns across Europe that have moved from criticizing Israeli policy to denying Israel's legitimacy, and that is the part of the message Israelis will remember.
