BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced serious concern over developments in Palestine, warning Israel against any move towards the annexation of the occupied West Bank amid escalating tensions and mounting humanitarian concerns.
In a statement shared on social media, Merz said: “I am deeply concerned about developments in the Palestinian territories. In my phone call with Prime Minister @netanyahu, I made it clear: There must be no de facto annexation of the West Bank.”
I am deeply concerned about developments in the Palestinian territories. In my phone call with Prime Minister @netanyahu, I made it clear: There must be no de facto annexation of the West Bank.
— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) April 13, 2026
Human rights organisations and international observers have repeatedly raised alarm over the scale of violence, accusing Israel of disproportionate use of force and actions that violate international humanitarian law.
Reports from the ground point to heavy civilian casualties, displacement of families, and damage to essential infrastructure, intensifying what many describe as a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Legal experts warn that unilateral actions altering the status of occupied territories could further destabilise the region and undermine prospects for a negotiated peace.
Merz’s intervention reflects growing unease among Western leaders, signalling that concerns over legality, human rights, and long-term regional stability are becoming harder to ignore.
