Germany, France concerned over humanitarian situation in Gaza

BERLIN

Germany and France have voiced their concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, new French Prime Gabriel Attal said on Monday after his talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

“During our exchange, we also once again expressed our concern about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the loss of numerous civilian lives from the Palestinian side,” Attal told a joint news conference with Scholz.

“I would like to make it clear again: International law must be respected and there must be a humanitarian cease-fire so that aid can be made available to civilians. The only peaceful solution is a peaceful solution based on two states where people can live in peace and security,” he added.

For his part, Scholz urged “better access to humanitarian aid” for Gazans.

We call for the Palestinians in Gaza “to finally have better access to humanitarian aid and for the civilian population to be better protected during military operations. I was able to make that clear again to Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu in a telephone conversation this afternoon,” said Scholz.

Netanyahu also updated the chancellor “about the military situation in the Gaza Strip and on the Israeli-Lebanese border,” according to German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

“He underlined the urgent need to significantly improve access and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. The current supply and security situation for the Palestinian civilian population is very worrying,” Hebestreit added.

The chancellor stressed again that “only a negotiated two-state solution would open up the prospect of a sustainable solution to the Middle East conflict.” according to Hebestreit.