Steinmeier urges Israel to end war in Gaza

During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for a peaceful solution for the Gaza Strip. Steinmeier emphasized the need to "present political perspectives for ending the war , particularly in dialogue with the Arab states," a spokeswoman for Steinmeier said after the meeting in Jerusalem. Furthermore, the Federal President emphasized the "urgency" of "reestablishing access to humanitarian aid for the population in Gaza."

The meeting between Steinmeier and Netanyahu took place as part of the German President's multi-day visit to Israel . The occasion marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany . Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog had already visited the German head of state in Berlin on Monday. With this unusual double visit to both countries, the presidents wanted to emphasize their close friendship.

Amnesty International criticizes meeting with Netanyahu

There had been criticism in Germany of Steinmeier's meeting with Netanyahu. Just hours before the meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister had announced that he would advance "with full force" into the Gaza Strip in the coming days. He again stated that his goal was the "smashing" and "destruction" of the militant Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas , which is classified as a terrorist group by numerous states.

The human rights organization Amnesty International, among others, had called on Steinmeier to cancel the meeting because the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister for war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Steinmeier dismissed these demands as "very simplistic." In Jerusalem, he said his visit came at a time "that is difficult for Israel, but also raises questions for Israel's friends." This was one of the reasons why he was holding talks with Israeli representatives, from whom he expected explanations about "what the medium- and long-term intentions" were in the Palestinian territories.

Talks in Jerusalem, commemoration in Beeri

Steinmeier's visit to Israel began on Tuesday at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, where Israeli President Herzog greeted him with military honors. The two heads of state visited, among other places, the National Library in Jerusalem. There, Steinmeier met with Israeli intellectuals critical of the government to discuss the current situation. This Wednesday, he also met with opposition politician Benny Gantz and former general Yair Golan.

At the end of his trip, Steinmeier also plans to visit Kibbutz Beeri, located near the border with the Gaza Strip. The kibbutz was largely destroyed in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Around 130 of its 1,300 residents were killed, and 50 others were abducted. Shortly after the attack, the Federal President had already visited the kibbutz and pledged seven million euros in German aid for reconstruction.

According to the Israeli military, more than 1,100 people were killed in the Islamist massacre; around 250 were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas authorities, more than 52,000 people were killed in the Palestinian territory in the subsequent Israeli military operation.

Air raid warning in Jerusalem

During Steinmeier's visit, there were several rocket alerts in Jerusalem. Shortly after the meeting with Netanyahu, among others, the Federal President, his wife Elke Büdenbender, and parts of the delegation were taken to the air raid shelter of the hotel where they were staying. They spent about a quarter of an hour there. According to Israeli sources, the alert was triggered by a rocket fired from Yemen . The Israeli army reportedly intercepted the rocket.

ch/jj/pgr (afp, dpa)