A Palestinian man holds ground lentils to be used as a replacement for flour during a shortage at a mill in the Jabalia camp for refugees in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
While reiterating that Germany stands by Israel's side, Merz also said that "we expect efforts for more humanitarian provision for the population in Gaza whose suffering we see, especially among children, women and the elderly".
"It is a humanitarian obligation on all parties... and I stress, on all parties -- that famine in the region be averted as soon as possible," Merz told parliament.
Germany has been a staunch supporter of Israel, with which it marked 60 years of diplomatic relations this week.
On Tuesday, a medical charity Medecins du Monde warned that a months-long Israeli blockade is worsening acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israel of using hunger as "a weapon of war".
Israel blocked all aid from entering the war-ravaged Palestinian territory on March 2, days before resuming its genocidal war on the Strip.
The United Nations and aid agencies have repeatedly warned of a growing humanitarian catastrophe for the roughly 2.4 million people in Gaza, amid dwindling supplies of everything from fuel and medicine to food and clean water.
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