"Merz also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem later on Saturday. The German chancellor earlier held talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II and told reporters they had mostly discussed Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. Merz urged more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and for Hamas fighters to lay down their weapons. He said Jordan and Germany both remain committed to a negotiated two-state solution."
"Merz has repeatedly criticised Israel's relentless military campaign, which has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians. In August, he also moved to restrict sales of weapons for use in Gaza. Since the United States-backed ceasefire came into effect in October which Israel has violated on a near-daily basis Germany has lifted those export restrictions. Despite the ceasefire, more than 350 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities, as well as three Israeli soldiers."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Israel for his first visit since taking office, aiming to reaffirm traditionally strong bilateral ties strained by Israel's war in Gaza. Merz stopped in Jordan and met King Abdullah II, discussing the Gaza conflict and urging increased humanitarian aid and Hamas disarmament. He met Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, and plans to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. German-Israeli relations have become shaky since October 2023 amid criticism of Israel's military campaign and shifting German export restrictions on weapons for use in Gaza.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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