German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) received King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein of Jordan in Berlin for discussions focused on humanitarian aid for the population of the Gaza Strip. While acknowledging the coordination of recent airdrops of essential supplies undertaken jointly with Jordan, Merz emphasized the critical need to expand aid delivery via land routes.
“What assistance is provided from the air is, realistically, only a small contribution to what is necessary via land” Merz stated at a subsequent press conference. He underscored that Israel must urgently and decisively improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, ensuring a dignified and essential supply of resources to the suffering civilian population. While welcoming initial steps taken by the Israeli government and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Merz stressed that further action is required.
The Chancellor refrained from detailing specific measures for increasing pressure on the Israeli government, stating that further consultations and potential decisions remain possible. He indicated a plan to request the foreign ministers of France, the United Kingdom and Germany to jointly travel to Israel next week to convey the positions of the three governments.
King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein expressed gratitude to Germany for its humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza and reiterated the importance of a ceasefire. He noted that Jordan has conducted the third-largest number of humanitarian airdrops since World War II, despite its limited size. Recognizing the approach as not being the most efficient, the King affirmed it remains a means of influencing Israel to address suffering not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank.