BERLIN

Germany's Defense Ministry on Friday defended Inspector General of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) General Carsten Breuer's controversial visit to Israel in the face of UN war crimes charges.

"First of all, I would like to say that I do not want to adopt your assessment of the term war criminal," deputy spokeswoman for the Defense Ministry Natalie Jenning responded to a question during a press briefing about why Breuer met with Israel's army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy at a time when Israel is accused of war crimes by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“And, furthermore, we always coordinate closely at all levels with our partners and with other nations, and, of course, that is also the case at the level of the inspector general …,” she added.

Jenning refused to reveal details of the talks between Breuer and Halevy.

According to the Israeli military, the two discussed “recent operational events, with an emphasis on the northern front, the strengthening of cooperation between the armies, and readiness for threats near and far.”

The UN has accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

“Israel has perpetrated a concerted policy to destroy Gaza’s healthcare system as part of a broader assault on Gaza, committing war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination with relentless and deliberate attacks on medical personnel and facilities,” the UN said in a report released on Oct. 10.

The report found that Israeli security forces have “deliberately killed, detained, and tortured medical personnel and targeted medical vehicles while tightening their siege on Gaza and restricting permits to leave the territory for medical treatment.”

“These actions constitute the war crimes of willful killing and mistreatment and of the destruction of protected civilian property and the crime against humanity of extermination,” it added.