Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on the parties in the Middle East conflict to suspend hostilities immediately. "Everything possible must be done to avoid civilian casualties and uphold international humanitarian law."
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The Chancellor and the heads of state and government of four western states are in agreement that Israel has the right to defend itself.
In view of the fighting in the Middle East, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for an immediate ceasefire. "The ever more intense fighting in and around Gaza which in recent days and again this morning involved the shelling and bombing of civilian infrastructure and UN facilities fills me with deep concern," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier today. Everything possible must be done, he added, to avoid civilian casualties and uphold international humanitarian law.
Deputy government spokesperson Christiane Wirtz declared that the German government is following developments in the Middle East with "great concern". Both sides must ensure that their actions remain within the limits of what is appropriate.
On Monday Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Presidents of the USA and France and the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and Italy conferred by telephone. They discussed efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the situation in Ukraine, Iraq and Libya.
All heads of state and government shared the concern that there is a risk of further escalation and of more innocent lives being lost. The aim is to achieve an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations Security Council has also called for this.
In a radio interview for Deutschlandfunk on 27 July, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed Egypt’s involvement in efforts to resolve the conflict. "We will not manage, however, without other parts of the Arab League," underscored the Federal Foreign Minister. Countries like Qatar will have to become involved in moves to get Hamas to accept a ceasefire.
It is essential to ensure that rockets and other heavy military equipment are no longer stored in schools and hospitals in the Gaza Strip and that the civilian population are no longer used as hostages. Only then are there any prospects of a lasting truce, said the minister. Steps must also be initiated to demilitarise the Gaza Strip.
Any ceasefire will only last, in his opinion, if it goes hand in hand with tangible improvements to living conditions in Gaza. Israel must be willing to take this step.
The foreign ministers of the USA, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Turkey, as well as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, met in Paris on Saturday 26 July. They called for an extension of the humanitarian pause.
Here too Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed that a pause of this sort must be used to get humanitarian supplies to the people in the Gaza Strip and to prepare negotiations for a durable ceasefire.
"The ceasefire will only be durable if Gaza ceases to be used as an arsenal for Hamas and if the people in Gaza see sustainable improvements in their living conditions," said the minister. The ceasefire cannot hold unless the Palestinian Authority assumes responsibility for governing Gaza and the authority for controlling the borders is returned to this Authority, he added.