Israel's Netanyahu faces wave of condemnation over Gaza City plans

Netanyahu’s plans for Israel to take control of Gaza City drew intense pushback Friday, with at least one European ally announcing it would halt military exports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to take control of Gaza City drew intense international pushback Friday, with at least one staunch European ally announcing it would halt military exports to Israel over the move.

The wave of condemnation from European leaders, Arab nations and a group representing the families of hostages illustrated a widening gulf between Netanyahu’s government and much of the world as Israel’s 22-month war against Hamas intensifies and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip worsens.

Western leaders, traditionally allies of Israel, swiftly spoke out to criticize Netanyahu’s expansion of the war.

Germany, a close ally of Israel since the aftermath of World War II, said Friday it would suspend the export to Israel of military equipment that could be used in Gaza. In a statement, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Israel had a “right to defend itself against Hamas’ terror” but raised alarms over Netanyahu’s dramatic escalation of the conflict.

“The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli Cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult, in the German government’s view, to achieve these goals,” Merz said.