Germany welcomes Board of Peace but demands 'many important points' clarified

2026-02-20 - 20:52

Germany welcomed the Board of Peace meeting in Washington, D.C., on Friday but emphasized that "many important points" remain to be clarified, according to deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Josef Hinterseher. Speaking to journalists in Berlin, Hinterseher said: "While we welcome the Board of Peace talks, yesterday's meeting also showed that there are still many important issues to be clarified." Humanitarian and Governance Demands Hinterseher stressed that the international community must remain committed to improving the Gaza Strip's situation—"urgently needed" humanitarian conditions, plus "sustainable security structures and administrative structures under Palestinian ownership and responsibility." He made clear reconstruction must "be carried out on the basis of international law." Germany holds only observer status at the Board of Peace meetings, which derive from UN Security Council Resolution 2803. Previous Red Lines Last month, Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry spokeswoman Lisa Royaee stated there are "clear red lines when it comes to rebuilding—which means no annexation and the focus must be on the population." The board, chaired by President Donald Trump, was originally conceived to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction following Israel's two-year war that killed over 71,000 Palestinians. Its charter has since expanded to peace-building in all conflict-affected or at-risk areas.