'I ask you to commit yourselves to make sure that humanitarian aid can be delivered to people and civilians in Gaza quickly, the blockade against humanitarian aid needs to be lifted,' Steinmeier tells Israeli counterpart Herzog
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged his visiting Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, on Monday to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to people in Gaza as soon as possible and to end the blockade, which is critically needed.
Following his talks with Herzog, Steinmeier told the media that he recognized the growing suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip, which has received extensive coverage in German media.
Earlier, Steinmeier welcomed Herzog to Berlin's Bellevue Schloss presidential palace for a state visit to commemorate 60 years of Israel-Germany diplomatic relations.
Steinmeier reflected on the significance of the anniversary, saying: “With this double visit, we are honoring not only the anniversary, but also the unique significance of the relationship between Israel and Germany. 60 years ago, this special partnership between Israel and Germany started.”
He emphasized the potential lessons to be learned from the two countries' historical reconciliation.
"Maybe this unique history of reconciliation between Germany and Israel can be a shimmer of hope for our own history, particularly in these times, and should be a reason for hope for others. Peace is possible. Reconciliation is possible," he added.
He also addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Steinmeier acknowledged the growing suffering of the civilian population, which has gotten substantial coverage in the German media.
“Nobody is being left untouched by that. And therefore I ask you to commit yourselves to make sure that humanitarian aid can be delivered to people and civilians in Gaza quickly, the blockade against humanitarian aid needs to be lifted,” he said.
The German president emphasized the importance of open communication between friends, stating: “It's part of friendship to communicate about concerns, to talk about concerns."
"This is what we've also and always done in the past, throughout all those years that we've been knowing each other, and therefore, I want to specifically thank you today for a very open and frank exchange in difficult times, also about the question how we can find ways out of this crisis.”
He emphasized the importance of a ceasefire in alleviating the humanitarian crisis and urged Hamas to release all hostages.
“Everything needs to be done to avoid an even deeper humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and I believe it's also part of the picture that we think beyond today, peace will only be possible if we can understand the solution on the horizon.”
Herzog, for his part, called on the international community to study their plan in-depth: “We call upon the international community. We call upon international NGOs and the UN organizations to study their plan in-depth, join hand in hands with us in helping the people of Gaza.”
More than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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