Germany's Baerbock continues diplomatic talks in Middle East

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh in Ramallah on Saturday during her continuing diplomatic tour of the Middle East.

Against the backdrop of the war in the Gaza Strip, which has been raging for over a month, the talks are expected to focus on the liberation of the hostages being held by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, including German citizens.

Efforts to provide humanitarian aid for the civilian population in Gaza and possible initial steps towards a political two-state solution to the Middle East conflict are also likely to be on the agenda.

In the evening the German minister plans to travel on to Israel, to hold talks with her counterpart Eli Cohen and opposition leader Yair Lapid.

Before travelling to Ramallah on Saturday, Baerbock held talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, and later with the prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, in Riyadh.

During the talks with the representatives from Qatar and Saudi Arabia she said there was agreement “that there is a need for humanitarian ceasefires that allow the humanitarian aid to be provided,” according to her delegation.

All parties agreed that a two-state-solution for the Palestinians and Israel would facilitate future peace, amid concerns that violence could spread to the West Bank.

On Friday in Abu Dhabi, Baerbock said she was hearing repeated calls for a general ceasefire but reiterated her concerns about what this would mean for the hostages held by Hamas or Israel’s security.

Together with her international colleagues, she had campaigned energetically for humanitarian pauses in recent days and weeks, Baerbock said on Friday evening.

“The fact that Israel is now taking a first step here is important and right,” she said.

“Humanitarian pauses must be implemented urgently so that we can finally get significantly more aid to the people in need in Gaza,” she said, emphasizing that Gaza will need massive support from the international community for a long time to come.

©dpa