Israel's Netanyahu receives visiting German president in his Jerusalem office

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday received German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his office in Jerusalem.

According to a statement by Netanyahu's office, he thanked the German president for visiting Israel, describing him as a "true friend of Israel."

Netanyahu also thanks Steinmeier for Germany's "consistent support for Israel's obligation to defend itself," in reference to his army's deadly attacks on Gaza.

The statement also said that Netanyahu stressed to the German president that the international community "must stand alongside Israel" in its war against Palestinian group Hamas.

Israel launched a massive military offensive in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave. The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.