Germany to start air lifting aid into Gaza
The aid decision was made during an emergency session of senior members of the German cabinet, following intensified tensions with Israel over the deteriorating situation in the Israeli-occupied region.
'We know that this can only be very little help for the people in Gaza, but at least it's a contribution we'd like to make,' Merz told journalists.
He said France and the UK – who form the informal E3 grouping together with Germany – were 'willing' to also take part in the aid operation, which would be carried out in cooperation with Jordan.
Last weekend, the E3 leaders agreed to consider further steps to increase the pressure on Israel to initiate a ceasefire and allow more aid into the Gaza Strip after reports that civilians there were facing mass starvation.
France's President Emmanuel Macron subsequently announced that Paris would unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state in September, though Germany and Britain declined to follow his example.
Merz said that the E3 would start preparing a reconstruction conference for the beleaguered region. That would help 'create leeway for a negotiated solution' to the conflict, Merz added.
Notably, he did not rule out imposing sanctions on Israel, when asked whether the cabinet had considered measures such as halting weapon deliveries to Israel and supporting the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Germany would 'reserve the right' to take such steps, Merz said with regard to the latter.
Berlin had previously refused to support a suspension after an internal EU review found Israel to be in breach of the agreement's human rights commitments.
(jp, aw)
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