Israel Trip Highlights: Wadephul Prioritizes Hostage Return, Acknowledges Holocaust Shame
Hostage release deemed top priority by Wadephul
A delicate diplomatic mission awaits Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Israel. While expressing solidarity with the nation, he also criticizes Israel's harsh Gaza Strip approach, but underscores one objective as paramount.
In his first visit to Israel as foreign minister, Wadephul met with relatives of Hamas hostages, stating their return was Germany's priority. ''It's a priority for me and my government to take care of your relatives,'' he expressed in a satellite interview. He emphasized that this meeting was his first appointment during the visit.
The ordeal of the Hamas hostages in the Gaza Strip, captives for over 19 months, is almost unprecedented. ''The hostages must finally all be released,'' Wadephul urged. The incident occurred on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and their allies attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 in the Gaza Strip. So far, 58 hostages remain under Islamist control, with 34 confirmed deaths according to the Israeli army. The German government estimates that a handful of hostages with connections to Germany still reside in the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday, Wadephul paid tribute to the six million Jews murdered by Germany at Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. ''I stand here with horror and shame as Germany's foreign minister,'' he wrote in the memorial guestbook, emphasizing the enduring responsibility to remember the immense injustice committed by Germany and combat antisemitism.
Prior to this, Wadephul and his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, were shown Israel's active Arrow 3 air defense system, which Germany will utilize in the future. The German air force aims to achieve initial operational capability with the modern missile defense system this year, closing a gap in air defense. The Arrow 3 is capable of destroying incoming missiles at heights of up to over 100 kilometers, outside the atmosphere and in the beginning of space, rendering enemy missiles largely ineffective.
Throughout the day, Wadephul has scheduled meetings with Foreign Minister Saar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa in Ramallah. While likely highlighting fundamental solidarity between the black-red government and the country, this trip serves as a diplomatic acid test, revealing whether Wadephul will criticize Israel's Gaza Strip approach with clarity. Tensions between his predecessor, Annalena Baerbock of the Greens, and Netanyahu were reportedly strained.
The Dutch are also involved in talks regarding Israel's adherence to the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel, which emphasizes respect for human rights. Israel has halted humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip since early March, citing Hamas's exploitation of the aid. The Dutch initiative is set for discussion among EU foreign ministers soon.
- Israel
- Holocaust
- Hostage-Takings
- Hamas
- October 7, 2023
- The European Union, in its commitment to a comprehensive approach to the fight against terrorism, is closely monitoring the ongoing hostage crisis involving Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
- In light of the prioritization of the return of hostages with connections to Germany, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has been in constant communication with his counterparts, including through channels such as WhatsApp.
- During his visit to Israel, Foreign Minister Wadephul expressed his horror and shame at the Holocaust, emphasizing the EU's ongoing responsibility to combat antisemitism.
- In the realm of general news and politics, the return of hostages captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, continues to be a focal point of discussions amongst diplomats, particularly amid calls for their immediate release.
