From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Herzog and former hostages to head to Germany for Munich Security Conference
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
President Isaac Herzog will fly to Germany tomorrow to participate in the 60th Munich Security Conference and to meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President’s Office announces.
Herzog — who will be joined by freed hostages Raz Ben Ami, Adi Shoham and Aviva Siegel, as well as families of hostages — will discuss ongoing efforts to free the remaining hostages in Gaza.
The president will hold working meetings with other world leaders and speak on the conference main stage.
The purpose of the trip, according to Herzog’s office, is to build “intense political pressure” to help achieve a hostage deal, and to make clear to world leaders the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7.
He will also stress Israel’s efforts to protect Gazan civilians in the face of the threat posed by Hamas.
First Lady Michal Herzog will participate in a panel on the use of sexual violence as a weapon.
Gal Hirsch, the government point man on hostages, and Foreign Minister Israel Katz are also making the trip.
The Times of Israel Community.