German Foreign Minister Reminds Israel Not To Take Sides In Palestinian Wilayyah

UN News/Mass moved towards the aid delivery point in the northern Gaza Strip.

JAKARTA - The German Foreign Minister reminded Israel not to act unilaterally in the Palestinian territories. Berlin will respond to any unilateral action, citing "threats of annexation" from several Israeli ministers.

Johann Wadephul issued the statement before leaving for Israel and the Palestinian territories on a trip that Berlin calls a fact-finding mission amid growing concerns over hunger in Gaza.

His remarks marked Germany's strongest warning to Israel, while Western countries intensified efforts to exert pressure.

In recent weeks, Britain, Canada, and France have signaled their readiness to recognize the Palestinian state in Israel's occupied territory at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly this September.

However, critics argue Germany's response is still too cautious, shaped by a prolonged historical guilt over the Holocaust and reinforced by pro-Israeli sentiment among influential media.

This condition weakens the West's collective ability to exert meaningful pressure on Israel.

In a statement, Wadephul reiterated Germany's stance that continued resolutions to the Gaza war could only be achieved through a negotiated two-state solution - a Palestinian country that coexists peacefully with Israel.

"Given the threat of open annexation from parts of the Israeli government, the more countries, including many countries in Europe, are now ready to recognize the Palestinian state even without previous negotiation processes. Therefore, this region and the Middle East peace process are at crossroads," Wadephul said. , July 31.

"The process must begin now. If unilateral steps are taken, Germany will also be forced to respond," he continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition includes two far-right parties calling for the direct conquest of Gaza and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements there.

Two senior government ministers also voiced support on Thursday to annex Israel's occupied West Bank.

The death toll from nearly two years of war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza surpassed 60,000 this week.

More and more civilians have died from hunger and malnutrition, Gaza's health authorities said, with videos/photos of children starving shocking the world and increasingly intensive criticism of Israel over aid restrictions to the region.

Germany, along with the United States, has long been one of Israel's most loyal allies and arms suppliers.

German officials say their approach to Israel is based on special responsibility, known as "STAatsraison", which emerged from the Nazi Holocaust heritage. They say they can achieve more through diplomatic channels than public statements.