German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will begin a trip to the Middle East on Sunday, marking her fourth visit to the region since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza, according to ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer. Fischer noted in a regular government press conference in Berlin that Annalena Baerbock will start her tour in Israel, where she will meet with her new Israeli counterpart Israel Katz and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. She is expected to then hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki.
Afterward, Baerbock will visit Egypt to meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, before heading to Lebanon. Fischer did not specify whom the minister will meet in Beirut. The spokesman clarified that Baerbock's discussions will cover "the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza," conditions in the occupied West Bank, the "very tense situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border," and "efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas."
