Baerbock promotes Germany's position on Gaza war in Malaysia talks

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reiterated Berlin's staunch support for Israel during her visit on Friday to Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that advocates for the Palestinian cause and maintains ties with Hamas.

Baerbock said that, in the German government's view, peace would only come to Gaza if foreign supporters of the Palestinians do not take "unilateral" positions.

She said Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union, must "lay down its weapons so that we can really come to a sustainable peace agreement."

Germany's top diplomat spoke after meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in November that even possible US sanctions on Hamas' foreign supporters, which could include his country, would not dissuade him.

"We do not see Hamas as a terrorist organization," he said at the time.

Baerbock was expected to meet with the prime minister on Friday.

She said she had made it clear in the meeting with her Malaysian counterpart that in order to shore up international law, "it is crucial to condemn such a barbaric terrorist attack and it is therefore crucial for us to do this together everywhere."

She also said that "it is crucial for us to contain the catastrophic situation in Gaza as quickly as possible and that humanitarian aid must be brought into the country."

The suffering of the Palestinians can only be ended "if the suffering of the Israelis is ended," Baerbock said.

This requires "a universal perspective," she said. "I very much hope that we can make progress on precisely this path together as an international community."

Prior to the meeting with Hasan, Baerbock had met with representatives of Muslim organizations.