Germany: Gaza belongs to Palestinians

Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany Niels Annen at the Security Council debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, May 23, 2019. [EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images]

German Parliamentary State Minister Niels Annen has reiterated his country’s firm position that the Gaza Strip is and will remain Palestinian land.

“Gaza is and will remain Palestinian. It is an indispensable part of a future Palestinian state. Decisions on Gaza can only be Palestinian decisions,” the minister said during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank.

During his visit to the occupied Palestinian territories, the German minister participated in the signing of an agreement contributing €10 million to the European Palestinian Credit Guarantee Foundation (EPCGF), which aims to support small and medium Palestinian enterprises.

His visit included a stop in Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank, to assess firsthand the challenges faced by Palestinians there.

Annen reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Palestinians recovery and development and conveyed compassion for families who have lost loved ones and homes and underscored the importance of Palestinian-led governance process in Gaza.

Germany has provided €302 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza since 7 October 2023, he noted.

In discussions with Minister of Planning Wael Zaqoud, Annen also voiced deep concerns about the worsening humanitarian and economic situation in the occupied West Bank and highlighted the displacement of Palestinian refugees in the territory, stressing the importance of social and economic stabilisation efforts in the region.

READ: Germany launches $10m initiative to boost Palestinian economy

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