More than 200 prominent German celebrities and journalists have signed an open letter calling on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to adopt a tougher stance on Israel, particularly in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The letter urges the German government to immediately stop arms deliveries to Israel and to impose further sanctions over Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The signatories—including well-known actors such as Liv Lisa Fries, Katharina Thalbach, and Benno Furmann—emphasized the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population, especially children, and argued that “no crime legitimizes the collective punishment of millions of innocent people in the most brutal way.” While the letter strongly condemned the actions of Hamas, it stressed that more than 17,000 children have already died in Gaza and hundreds of thousands are traumatized and displaced.
The appeal acknowledges Chancellor Merz’s recent criticism of the Israeli government but demands more decisive action: halting all German arms exports to Israel, supporting the suspension of the EU Association Agreement with Israel, and pressing for an immediate ceasefire along with unrestricted humanitarian access.
“These steps are deeply aligned with European values and would make it unmistakably clear to the Israeli government that even its closest allies can no longer tolerate the suffering and that words are no longer enough,” the letter stated.
Chancellor Merz, addressing the escalating humanitarian situation earlier this week, signaled that his government is contemplating increased pressure on Israel, though no final decisions have yet been made.
This public intervention by notable German figures underscores growing domestic and international concern over the scale of suffering in Gaza and adds to mounting calls across Europe for a more robust response to the conflict.
