German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for immediate steps toward reviving the Middle East peace process, stressing that while Germany sees recognition of a Palestinian state as the final outcome, the process must begin now.
Speaking before the UN General Assembly in New York, Wadephul urged an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Wadephul, according to dw.com, has warned that any Israeli moves to annex occupied territories would further endanger prospects for peace, stressing that only a negotiated two-state solution could allow Israelis and Palestinians to live “in peace, security and dignity.” Germany has long supported this framework, but insists that state recognition should follow a credible peace process.
The call comes as France and Saudi Arabia prepare to co-host a high-level UN summit focused on implementing the two-state solution.
French President Emmanuel Macron argued that recognition of Palestinian statehood would prevent Palestinians from being driven into the arms of Hamas, which carried out the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel that killed more than 1,200 people and led to the taking of 250 hostages.
Since those attacks, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of more than 65,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the territory’s Health Ministry — figures considered reliable by the United Nations. Macron has said the recognition move could help isolate Hamas while advancing a legitimate path to Palestinian sovereignty.
Momentum is already shifting. The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia announced their official recognition of Palestine, marking the first time major Western economies have taken this step.
Their decision has met strong resistance from both the United States and Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry warned that such moves do not promote peace but instead destabilize the region, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to block any Palestinian state and accelerate settlement construction.
As global leaders gather in New York, divisions are deepening: many countries see Palestinian recognition as essential to peace, while Israel and the US dismiss it as dangerous and premature.
Against this backdrop, Germany’s stance reflects both caution and urgency—seeking to begin the peace process without yet taking the final step of recognition.
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