Today (7 January) in Berlin, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's proposals to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli Government's announcement that it will establish a humanitarian corridor.

The Foreign Minister said:

“I expressly welcome the initiative proposed by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to bring the military action in the Gaza Strip to an end. On the basis of these proposals, we must now find a route out of the violence as quickly as possible. The goal must be a permanent ceasefire, which guarantees security for Israelis and Palestinians.

I also welcome the Israeli announcement that they will open up a humanitarian corridor for aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. The swift implementation of this measure is an important step that is required to enable the relief supplies urgently needed by the suffering people of Gaza to get through.

Last night I spoke to Jakob Kellenberger, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who personally told me about the work of the ICRC in Gaza. The Federal Government will make available 2 million euro to the ICRC for this work.”

The Egyptian plan, which President Mubarak put forward last night at Sharm-el-Sheik, provides among other things for an immediate ceasefire and talks on solving the conflict.

The Federal Foreign Office has already provided more than 11 million euro for the Palestinian population this year (2009).