German FM urges increased humanitarian aid to Gaza

BERLIN - German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday called for increased humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and criticized Israel's settlement expansion in the West Bank.

"The amount of humanitarian aid currently reaching Gaza is far too limited," Wadephul said at a press conference in Berlin after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

"I once again make an urgent appeal to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza -- aid that must be provided on the basis of humanitarian, impartial, neutral, and independent principles."

Wadephul also criticized the Israeli government's recent approval of 22 new settlement projects across the occupied West Bank, saying they violate international law and undermine prospects for a two-state solution.