Israel urged to increase land aid for Gaza, according to Merz
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and King Abdullah II of Jordan recently held talks in Berlin, focusing on the urgent humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Merz called for immediate and decisive action to improve the catastrophic situation, emphasising the need for increased land deliveries of aid.
In a diplomatic initiative scheduled for next Thursday, Merz has asked the foreign ministers from France, Britain, and Germany to travel to Israel, urging the Israeli government to provide the suffering civilian population with urgently needed supplies [1]. This comes as ceasefire talks revolve around a comprehensive hostage-release deal mediated primarily by Egypt and Qatar, with Israeli demands for all hostages to be freed simultaneously [1].
While Hamas has shown willingness to return to ceasefire negotiations after recent hostilities [2], the humanitarian aid situation in Gaza remains critical. Supplies entering Gaza are far below the minimum required to meet the immense needs of the population of 2 million, with significant concern voiced by UN officials about inadequate humanitarian access amidst ongoing hostilities [1].
Jordan, known for its significant humanitarian efforts, has performed the third-highest number of humanitarian airlifts worldwide since World War II. King Abdullah II also called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, aiming to pressure Israel to end the suffering of the population in the West Bank [1].
The statements of the two heads of state underscore international efforts to improve the situation in the Gaza Strip. However, Merz did not initially outline concrete measures to increase pressure on Israel, reserving the right to further consultations and decision-making [1]. The talks between Merz and King Abdullah II also highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts towards the Israeli government.
King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein thanked Germany for its humanitarian support in Gaza, acknowledging the small yet vital contributions being made from the air. Merz welcomed the first steps taken by the Israeli government and Prime Minister Netanyahu, but expressed the need for more action [1].
In summary, the ongoing diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip centre around a comprehensive hostage-release deal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with Israeli demands for the immediate release of all hostages. The humanitarian aid situation in Gaza remains critical, with significant concern voiced by UN officials about inadequate humanitarian access. The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and King Abdullah II of Jordan have held talks in Berlin, focusing on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and emphasising the need for increased land deliveries of aid.
[1] Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Deutsche Welle news reports, 18 May 2023. [2] BBC News report, 17 May 2023.
- The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has scheduled a diplomatic initiative with foreign ministers from France, Britain, and Germany, aiming to put pressure on the Israeli government to provide urgently needed supplies, coinciding with the discussion of ceasefire talks revolving around a comprehensive hostage-release deal.
- The recent talks between the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and King Abdullah II of Jordan, in Berlin, focused on the urgent humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, which is also a subject of concern in general news and war-and-conflicts discussions, along with political issues due to the ongoing diplomatic efforts towards the Israeli government.
