The families of the remaining hostages go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning thinking of their loved ones – each and every day. But the nightmare of the people in the Middle East still has not come to an end. It is horrific that six further hostages have been murdered in captivity. The Hamas terrorists will stop at nothing, no matter how atrocious the act. That is why, as difficult as it is, all efforts must continue to be directed towards a humanitarian ceasefire leading to the hostages’ release – and to an end to the dying. After all, there is no military solution either for Gaza or for the situation in the West Bank.

There is a threat of escalating violence in the West Bank. Terrorism cannot be fought by tearing up roads, destroying waterpipes and blocking access to hospitals. No one stands to gain anything if a new young generation is radicalised now because they are forced to witness the destruction on their doorsteps. The Palestinians have a right to live in security and dignity. Negotiations on a two-state solution are the only option for lasting peace. This is the only way to tackle terrorism in the long term. Those members of the Israeli Government who call into question the two-state solution with their words and deeds are jeopardising Israel’s long-term security.

The summer holidays are coming to an end in the last Länder right now. In Gaza, normal school lessons are out of the question. The fact that, together with the United Nations, we have now been able to facilitate a vaccination campaign against polio is a ray of hope in these dark times. Each and every needle brings a piece of hope back to Gaza. Each and every vaccine dose shows that humanity is indivisible. In order for more aid to finally reach Gaza, the Biden plan proposed by the US must now be adopted at long last.