Berlin urges Israel to ‘immediately’ improve humanitarian conditions

Israel must “immediately” improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the German government’s representative for human rights and humanitarian aid said, ahead of a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Until recently Israel has enjoyed broad support across the political spectrum in Germany, but Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s tone towards Israel has sharpened as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated. Last month, the United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza, after a UN-backed report warned that 500,000 people were facing “catastrophic” conditions in the war-ravaged territory.