Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, in Berlin on Thursday, as Germany pledged continued military support for Israel despite growing international calls for an arms embargo.
The talks came a day after Wadephul vowed that Germany would maintain weapons deliveries to Israel, even as he criticized its military actions in Gaza and expansion of West Bank settlements.
At a joint press conference, Wadephul reiterated his "urgent request" for Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza in compliance with international law. He also condemned Israel’s approval of 22 additional settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the move illegal and detrimental to a two-state solution.
Saar, meanwhile, urged Germany to support the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as an alternative to UN-led aid distribution, arguing it would prevent Hamas from diverting supplies. The GHF has faced criticism for bypassing established aid channels and allegedly endangering civilians.
"This initiative could help free Palestinians from Hamas’s grip and bring this war to an end," Saar said. Hamas, designated a terrorist group by Germany, the EU, and the U.S., has long been accused of seizing humanitarian resources.
Despite his criticisms, Wadephul stressed Israel’s right to self-defense, declaring that Germany’s arms shipments "were never in doubt." He also rejected calls for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it "the wrong signal" before a negotiated resolution.
Outside the German Foreign Ministry, demonstrators rallied under the banner "Red Line of International Law," waving Palestinian flags and demanding an end to German arms sales to Israel. Signs reading "Stop War Crimes in Gaza" and "End the Starvation Blockade" underscored mounting public dissent.
Earlier, the two ministers laid a wreath at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial, where Wadephul reaffirmed Germany’s "enduring obligation" to combat antisemitism and ensure Israel’s security. Saar, however, warned that the lessons of the Holocaust were being forgotten, citing a recent report documenting an antisemitic incident in Germany every hour.
Wadephul’s pledge of continued military support appeared to reverse his earlier suggestion that future shipments might hinge on Israel’s compliance with international law. The shift follows heightened scrutiny of Israel’s Gaza offensive, launched after Hamas’s October 7 attacks killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages.
With Gaza’s death toll surpassing 54,000, according to local health authorities, international pressure on Israel has intensified. Yet Wadephul insisted that isolating Israel would only embolden Hamas, urging instead for a post-war plan for Gaza.
As France considers recognizing Palestinian statehood, Wadephul emphasized that direct negotiations must come first. "Hamas must release hostages and disarm unconditionally," he said.
The meeting marked the second high-level talks between the ministers this month, underscoring the delicate balance between alliance and accountability in German-Israeli relations.