Erbil Basay and Seda Sevencan
10 May 2025•Update: 10 May 2025
BERLIN/ISTANBUL
Germany's new Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Saturday said the situation in the Gaza Strip has become “unbearable.”
“I will ask about the strategic objective of the fighting, which has intensified again since March,” Wadephul said ahead of his visit to Israel and Palestine.
Condemning the Oct. 7 attack and expressing support for Israel's right to security, Wadephul urged Hamas to end the fighting and release all hostages.
He emphasized the need for cease-fire negotiations.
Wadephul also stressed the importance of a political and economic future in the West Bank to prevent the spread of hatred and extremism.
He said his upcoming meetings would focus on how to support the Palestinian administration in implementing urgently needed reforms and address Israel's settlement construction.
He reiterated his belief that a two-state solution remains the best chance for lasting peace and security for Israel and its neighbors, adding that it should not be obstructed.
Wadephul noted that 80 years after the Holocaust, the German government reaffirms that Israel's existence and security remain a matter of state policy for Germany.
He also marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel, calling it a “precious gift” for Germans. “We are clearly on Israel's side,” he said.
During his visit to Israel and Palestine, Wadephul is expected to meet with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and families of hostages held by Hamas.
He is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa in Ramallah.
