(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
As part of his state visit to Germany, President Isaac Herzog met today (Monday, 12 May 2025) with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Chancellor’s office in Berlin – making President Herzog the first world leader to be received by Chancellor Merz since he was elected to office last week.
At the beginning of their meeting, President Herzog thanked the Chancellor for the warm reception, which he said reflected the strong friendship between the two peoples.
Displayed in the Chancellor’s office is a photo of Zikim Beach — the site of a horrific Hamas attack on October 7, where civilians and soldiers were murdered near the border fence with Gaza.
President Isaac Herzog told Chancellor Merz: “This is a special opportunity to wish you much success, and it is a great honor for me to be the first leader to meet you here in your office since you took office.
“These are very sensitive and painful times. Fifty-nine Israeli hostages are still being held deep inside Hamas’ tunnels in Gaza. At least twenty-one of them are going through hell. We are pleading, demanding, and asking the international community to intervene.
In the coming hours, we hope that one of them — Edan Alexander — will be released. But the others remain there, including those who were killed and whose bodies must be brought back for a proper burial. Only then can we close the painful chapter that began on October 7 with their abduction.
Nine of the hostages hold German citizenship. I therefore appeal from here, on behalf of the State of Israel on behalf of my nation, to the international leadership to do everything possible to bring about change. I thank your government deeply for the steps you are already taking in this regard.
“All of this originates from the empire of evil that is Iran. One of the most significant challenges today is confronting Iran — both its nuclear program and the many proxies and forces it operates around the world.”
At the end of their meeting, President Herzog and Chancellor Merz watched the release of Edan Alexander, after 584 days in Hamas captivity.
