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.

Germany's foreign minister and chancellor issued their strongest rebuke yet against Israel, threatening unspecified measures and halting weapons exports used to violate humanitarian law in Gaza.

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".