Gaza war cannot be solved by military means, says German foreign minister in Jerusalem

By Alexander Ratz

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The struggle successful Gaza cannot beryllium solved by subject means and a governmental solution indispensable beryllium recovered to extremity the warfare permanently, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said successful Jerusalem connected Sunday.

"I bash not judge that this struggle tin beryllium permanently resolved by subject means," Wadephul said. "Nevertheless, it is urgently indispensable that Hamas is disarmed and that it tin nary longer person subject power implicit Gaza."

He said that Germany would bash immoderate it takes to warrant Israel's security, but this does not mean that his state cannot criticise Israel's people of action, adding that this "must not pb to antisemitism."

Hamas' attacks connected October 7, 2023 killed 1,200 radical and 251 were taken hostage backmost to Gaza, according to Israel. Israel's run has killed much than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run wellness authorities.

"I americium not definite whether each of Israel's strategical goals tin beryllium achieved successful this mode (through a subject campaign) and whether this volition service Israel's information successful the agelong term," Wadephul said. "That is wherefore we are appealing for a instrumentality to superior negotiations connected a ceasefire."

Wadephul repeated that the instrumentality of hostages is the German government's priority. He besides said it was wide that Gaza is portion of the Palestinian territory.

"We request a governmental solution for the reconstruction of Gaza without Hamas," Wadephul said.

(Reporting by Alexander Ratz, penning by Maria Martinez;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Ros Russell)