On October 24, 2024, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a commitment of €60 million in humanitarian aid for Lebanon during a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, as reported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
Scholz expressed sympathy for the suffering of the Lebanese people and emphasized the need for a political process aimed at ensuring the safety of citizens in Israel and the sovereignty of Lebanon, free from foreign influences. This statement coincided with a visit to Lebanon by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who reiterated the importance of a diplomatic solution.
The German government highlighted that a crucial first step toward achieving these objectives is the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the war between Israel and the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah in 2006. This resolution stipulates that only the Lebanese army and the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, can operate in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border.
Despite this resolution, Hezbollah continues to maintain a presence in southern Lebanon. Concurrently, Israel has launched a ground offensive against Hezbollah, following extensive airstrikes that began on September 30, amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier on the same day, Foreign Minister Baerbock, speaking from Beirut, urged for an acceptable diplomatic solution for both Israel and Lebanon, warning of the dire consequences of a complete collapse of the Lebanese state. She stated that Lebanon is on the brink of collapse and that destabilization would be catastrophic for the region, which is home to the most religiously diverse society in the Middle East.
Germany is set to participate in an international conference on Lebanon scheduled to take place in Paris on October 25, 2024.