German counselor Friedrich Mertz again made a phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he stressed the need to improve the humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian Gaza Strip.
According to the German news agency, German government spokesman Stefan Cornellius said today, Sunday: “The advisor expressed his deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, and demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu to do everything in his power to immediately reach a ceasefire.”
The spokesman added that Mertz called on Netanyahu to deliver the required humanitarian aid urgently to the civilian population in Gaza, noting that “the measures announced by the Israeli government must be followed, now, with concrete and fast steps.”
The leader of the German Christian Union explained that the German government will, in the coming days, coordinate with both France and Britain (the three countries are called European Troika), as well as with other European partners, the United States, and the Arab countries, taking a decision on how to contribute to improving the situation in Gaza.
Germany, France and Britain published, yesterday, Friday, a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war, and the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli protesters present in the “Hamas” movement in the Strip.
A spokesman for the German government confirmed that recognition of the State of Palestine is still not currently on the agenda of Germany, noting that the German government is still considered this recognition of the final steps within the way to achieving a two -state solution.
It is worth noting that, in June 2024, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) voted a decision to refuse to establish a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.
The decision described the establishment of a Palestinian state in the aftermath of the events of October 7, 2023 as a “reward for terrorism”, and it was considered that “such a reward will only lead to encouraging the Hamas movement, which will then use the State of Palestine to launch attacks on Israel.”
