German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended halting some weapons deliveries to Israel amid mounting criticism of the move from some within his own ranks, AFP reports.

“The Federal Republic of Germany has stood by Israel’s side for 80 years,” Merz told broadcaster ARD. “Nothing about that will change. We will keep on helping this country to defend itself.”

The chancellor said he had reassured Israel’s president earlier that Germany was not breaking with its traditional friendship with Israel.

“We have one point of disagreement and that concerns Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip,” he said. “That is something which a friendship can withstand.”

He further told ARD that though Germany had solidarity with Israel, this did not mean that “we have to think that every decision which a government reaches is good and support it to the point of offering military aid, including weapons”.