German foreign minister due in Israel, Palestine

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - Germany's foreign minister is scheduled to travel to Israel and the West Bank for political talks late Wednesday night amid the escalating Gaza conflict.

“I am planning to travel to Israel for talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah later tonight,” Heiko Maas told reporters in Berlin.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Maas will meet with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi, and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

In Ramallah he is slated to meet with Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinian Authority prime minister.

Talks will focus on the current escalation in the Middle East and international efforts to end the violence.

Germany is a staunch ally of Israel and has repeatedly supported Tel Aviv’s military aggression on Gaza, claiming that Israel is exercising its right to self-defense.

Meanwhile, a German Foreign Ministry spokesperson has called for a cease-fire in the Gaza conflict amid the mounting death toll, especially among Palestinian civilians.

“We are trying to get both sides to first have a truce and then a cease-fire,” Andrea Sasse told reporters.

Despite the growing violence – now in its tenth day – diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have failed to make much progress.

The US continues to block the UN Security Council from issuing a joint statement urging an end to the hostilities, telling diplomats that a public statement would not help calm the tensions.

Berlin has repeatedly ruled out direct talks with the Palestinian group Hamas, which governs the Gaza strip.

At least 227 Palestinians, including 64 children, have been killed in Israeli military airstrikes on Gaza since the latest violence erupted on May 10. About 1,620 Palestinians have been injured.

Twelve people in Israel have died, while nearly 300 Israelis have been wounded, according to local media reports.