• Chancellor Scholz says Germany is taking diplomatic efforts with US, European allies and regional partners to prevent Gaza war from spreading
• German Foreign Minister Baerbock begins Middle East trip with planned meetings in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel

BERLIN

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that the German government will continue its diplomatic efforts to prevent the Gaza war from turning into a major regional conflict.

“Together with the US, our European allies and our partners in the region, we are doing everything we can diplomatically to prevent this from becoming a conflagration,” he said at a military conference in Berlin.

Since the conflict between Palestine and Israel escalated last month, Scholz has repeatedly warned Iran and Hezbollah not to intervene in the conflict.

“Germany’s place is at the side of Israel,” Scholz said, adding that “we will support Israel, wherever necessary, in exercising its right to self-defense.”

The German government says it bears historical responsibility for the security of Israel due to the country’s Nazi past and crimes committed against Jews.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is beginning her Middle East tour on Friday as part of Berlin’s diplomatic efforts to stop further escalation of the crisis.

“Foreign Minister Baerbock plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel,” the ministry said in a statement, without giving any further details.

The conflict escalated dramatically after Hamas’s military wing carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by firing thousands of rockets and sending hundreds of fighters into Israeli towns.

Israel responded by an uninterrupted campaign of air and artillery strikes on Gaza, and recently expanded its ground operations to root out Hamas. Civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and refugee camps, were also targeted by the Israeli forces.

At least 10,812 Palestinians, including 4,412 children and 2,918 women, have been killed so far, according to health authorities.

A group of UN experts have recently warned that Palestinians are “at a grave risk of genocide” as the Israeli government maintains a complete siege on the Gaza Strip.

Since the conflict escalated, nearly 1,600 Israelis have been killed and over 5,400 others are injured in Hamas attacks, according to Israeli authorities.