Germany will keep supplying weapons to Israel despite its intensified offensive in Gaza that has sparked international outcry, the foreign minister said on Monday, snubbing Spanish calls for an embargo.
"As a country that understands Israel's security and existence as a core principle, Germany is always obliged to assist Israel in guaranteeing its security," Johann Wadephul told a joint press conference in Madrid alongside Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares.
"That naturally includes being willing to supply weapons in the future," said Wadephul, citing Germany's unique responsibility towards Israel after the Holocaust.
Spain, long an outspoken critic of the war in Gaza, is urging EU partners to follow its lead and stop selling weapons to Israel.
Albares called for that ban and the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel cooperation deal on Sunday as he hosted 20 European and Arab countries to discuss ways to end the conflict.
Wadephul added that "we must not ignore the fate" of Gazans, opposing their "expulsion" and a "policy of starvation" as well as urging the supply of humanitarian aid to the devastated Palestinian territory.
Albares said Israel's offensive had "no military objective" except "turning Gaza into a huge cemetery", demanding the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid after months of Israeli blockade.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz himself said on Monday said he now "no longer understands" its objective in war-ravaged Gaza.