Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, suggested that Israel should relinquish control of the Gaza Strip following the war against Hamas.

She stated that Palestinians should be in charge, free from terror, self-determined, and with a freely elected government, including those in the West Bank.

Baerbock stressed that building infrastructures, reforming the Palestinian Authority, economic reconstruction, and a security structure, including security guarantees for both Palestine and Israel, would help ensure that the two-state solution remained within reach.

She further added that only the two-state solution could bring lasting peace and security for the people of Israel.

When asked who should be in charge after the end of the war, Baerbock said on Friday as quoted by NAN: “that the Palestinians, free from Hamas, free from terror, self-determined and with a freely elected government of all Palestinians, including in the West Bank, should be in charge.

“This will not happen overnight, she said but we must not lose sight of the political horizon, especially now, during the war.”

Baerbock’s comments were prompted by Israel’s recent announcement of declaring around 800 hectares in the West Bank as Israeli state land.

She mentioned that protection during a transitional period, before two states can live side by side in peace, would only be possible with international security guarantees.

Baerbock stated that Arab countries must be involved, and Israel’s close friends, including Germany, must be concerned about the political horizon.

Finally, she noted that Israel should be sure that there would be no future terrorist threats from Palestine, and Palestinians should be assured that they could live safely and with dignity on their soil.