Unlike other countries such as Canada or France, Germany does not intend to recognize an independent Palestinian state at present. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed this position after his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. During a joint press conference in Berlin on Tuesday, Merz said, “We will not join this initiative… We do not see the conditions for recognition as met at all at this time.” Germany considers recognition of the Palestinian state as one of the final steps towards a two-state solution that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to live peacefully side by side. In contrast, Carney announced at the end of July that Canada would recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. French President Emmanuel Macron also intends to do so. Carney justified this by saying that aspirations for a two-state solution are increasingly deteriorating.

Merz confirmed, “Germany will not follow this path at the UN General Assembly,” explaining that recent events in the Gaza Strip have not changed this. Recently, the Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital south of the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the death of 19 people including 5 journalists, sparked international outrage and criticism.