Ankara: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Tuesday urged Israel to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles hindering humanitarian aid to Gaza and called for the release of withheld tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority.

According to Anadolu Agency, Wadephul made these remarks during a joint news conference in Tel Aviv with his Israeli counterpart. The ministers discussed recent regional developments, including the US-Iran talks, the Israel-Lebanon conflict, and the situations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. While Wadephul affirmed Germany's strong support for Israel's security, he highlighted issues of concern, stressing the importance of implementing the Gaza peace plan and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians without delay.

Wadephul pointed out that bureaucratic procedures are delaying aid organizations, potentially disrupting assistance to the approximately 2 million people in urgent need in Gaza. He emphasized that these hurdles must be removed to facilitate the swift delivery of aid. Additionally, he reiterated Germany's stance against a military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for diplomatic efforts toward a negotiated two-state solution.

The German foreign minister also urged Israel to release the blocked tax and customs revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, emphasizing that these funds are essential for providing critical services in security, education, and healthcare in the West Bank. Wadephul warned that weakening the Palestinian Authority could create a vacuum that might be filled by more radical forces, posing a risk to Israel's security.

Furthermore, Wadephul renewed Berlin's criticism of Israeli settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territories, stating that such projects threaten to block the path to peace and that a de facto annexation of parts of the West Bank would not be legally recognized by Germany.