For decades, Germany has stood squarely in Israel’s corner, its dark history of Jewish persecution shaping its modern-day policy of virtually unquestioned backing.

By Sarah Marsh, Matthias Williams and Thomas EscrittTURKU, Finland/BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered his most severe rebuke of Israel to date on Tuesday, criticising massive air strikes on Gaza as no longer justified by the need to fight Hamas and "no longer comprehensible".

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has denounced Israel’s air strikes on Gaza during a recent press conference. During a recent press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Merz described Israel’s actions as being “no longer comprehensible.