The German federal government has issued a pressing appeal to Donald Trump’s newly formed “Peace Council” before its first meeting, saying it is already in dialogue with the council’s representative on Gaza and several member states. Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan (SPD) told the “Frankfurter Rundschau” that the council’s meeting must focus on decisive action and concrete aid that reaches Gaza residents quickly.
She emphasized that Germany is not a member of the council but remains in intensive contact with its participants, and it remains ready to support reconstruction in Gaza and to contribute to a lasting improvement of conditions there and in the wider region. During the Munich Security Conference she held numerous talks with the EU Commission, France, Italy, Norway, Arab states, and Nickolay Mladenov, the council’s high representative for Gaza.
Alabali Radovan said that rebuilding Gaza can only happen under proper political conditions, insisting that the Hamas movement must be disarmed and that the Palestinians’ right to self‑determination must also be respected. “They must be part of the rebuilding process” she added, stressing the necessity of a two‑state solution as a clear goal.
She also acknowledged that cuts in U.S. development assistance have left a “gigantic gap” that neither Germany nor the EU can fill alone. Other donors have similarly reduced their funding. “We are working with our partners on how to finance global development sustainably for the future” she explained. Germany is now one of the largest actors in international development, and she urged that this influence be used even more strategically.
