Overview

• Johann Wadephul, on his first overseas trip as German foreign minister, urged Israel to re-enter serious ceasefire negotiations aimed at releasing Hamas-held hostages and addressing Gaza's humanitarian crisis.
• Wadephul emphasized the need for a political framework to rebuild Gaza without Hamas and reiterated support for a two-state solution as the path to peace and security.
• During his visit to the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, Wadephul reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to combating antisemitism and ensuring Israel's security as a cornerstone of German policy.
• He inspected Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system, which Germany plans to deploy, signaling deepening defense cooperation between the two nations.
• Wadephul’s itinerary included meetings with Israeli leaders and a planned discussion with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa in Ramallah to explore economic and political prospects for Palestinians.