German opposition urges government to summon Israel’s ambassador over attacks on Lebanon

Germany’s opposition Left Party urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government on Thursday to summon Israel’s ambassador in protest over a wave of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon that killed at least 254 people in a single day.

“The German government must finally take a stand,” Left Party lawmaker Nicole Gohlke said in a statement posted on social media. “It must name the crimes, summon the Israeli ambassador, actively advocate for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and immediately end all forms of military cooperation,” she said.

Omid Nouripour, a lawmaker from the opposition Greens, also expressed grave concern over the escalation, warning that the situation in Lebanon had reached a dramatic turning point. He urged the German government to take more active steps, including stronger European involvement, to prevent a deeper conflict in the region.

“The question is whether we can help prevent the situation in Lebanon from spiraling completely out of control — which is exactly what is happening, with dramatic consequences, incidentally, also for Europe,” Nouripour told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

“As Europeans, we should come together and talk about what we can do,” he added. “There can be an initiative to stabilize Lebanon, and also talks with the Israeli side about whether what is happening there actually contributes to security in the region.”

Israel carried out one of its largest strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday since launching its military offensive against Hezbollah early last month. The attacks killed at least 254 people and wounded 1,165 others, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defense. The escalation has raised fears of a possible renewed Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, potentially reaching as far as the Litani River.