German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Monday for a permanent end to violence in the Gaza Strip, stressing that long-term security for Israel goes hand in hand with lasting security for the Palestinians.
“Sustainable security for all Israelis will only be possible if there is sustainable security for Palestinians,” she said, and vice versa.
“One is not possible without the other,” Baerbock said at the Herzliya Security Conference in Tel Aviv. The meeting was organized by the Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) and Reichman University in Tel Aviv.
Ways had to be found to stop violence in Gaza and create lasting security, Baerbock said. This was the goal of all talks in Israel, whether with American, European or Arab partners, she said.
Referring to Germany’s reacceptance in the international community after World War II, Baerbock said Germany knew how important broad and long-term international involvement was for this kind of effort.
Turning to her Israeli audience, she said that Germany wanted to be there for Israel, as its partners had been there for Germany at the time.
Baerbock reiterated her call on the Israeli government to respect human rights and international law in its military operations in the Gaza Strip. She called reports of the abuse of Palestinian prisoners disturbing, while also demanding that Hamas put an end to “this abomination” and release all its hostages.
Hamas has sought to destroy Israel’s security and legitimacy and unleash regional escalation with the help of its international supporters, she said.
Baerbock is also going to Ramallah, Beirut
The visit was Baerbock’s eighth since the Hamas attacks on October 7. A meeting is planned with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz in Jerusalem.
Talks are scheduled for Tuesday in Ramallah with Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa on the situation in the West Bank and the PA’s reform efforts.
On Tuesday evening, Baerbock plans to speak with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the capital Beirut.
