Overview

• Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, criticized the German government for its lack of public engagement regarding hostages taken by Hamas.
• Schuster described the German Foreign Office under Annalena Baerbock as overly cautious, prioritizing negotiation dynamics over public advocacy.
• The deaths of Shiri Bibas and her two children, who held German citizenship, were labeled a 'low point of German foreign policy' due to the lack of public response.
• President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's meeting with hostage relatives was praised as a positive step towards stronger public advocacy for their release.
• As of March 2025, 58 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, with 34 confirmed dead, highlighting ongoing humanitarian and diplomatic challenges.