I feel very lucky to have been given a political tour of Nazareth - Palestinian life there before and since 1948; the challenges of urban development; trying to breathe life into the old town. Thank you, Sharif, it was a pleasure and an education. I will be back for more.

As a novelist, a poet, a public intellectual and a voice for humanity and peace - David Grossman so richly deserves to be this year‘s recipient of the Heine-Preis awarded by the city of Düsseldorf. מזל טוב!

Absolutely devastated by the news of this horrible knife attack in Solingen. Like millions of Germans today I mourn with the families of the victims and pray for the recovery of the injured. The killer must be found and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

I urge all fellow Germans in Israel to stay close to home and the shelters and to follow the official instructions. Allen deutschen Landsleuten rate ich, sich in der Nähe der Wohnungen und von Schutzräumen aufzuhalten. Bitte folgen Sie den Hinweisen der Sicherheitsbehörden.

Home Front Command lifts some restrictions for Tel Aviv and northern regions. Viele Einschränkungen wieder aufgehoben, dennoch: informieren Sie sich weiter gut über die Entwicklung der Lage. m.jpost.com/breaking-news/…

Rescued from a tunnel after 326 days in Hamas captivity: Qaid Farhan Alkadi from the Bedouin community of Rahat is now being reunited with his family. What a ray of light in these dark days, what a joy. 108 hostages remain!

Wir stehen hinter euch! 🖤❤️💛 Team Deutschland Paralympics #TeamD #JetztFürImmer #NichtOhneMeinTeam #TeamDeutschlandParalympics 📸 DBS/Ralf Kuckuck

I regret having believed - like so many others - that that suicide letter was real. It turns out it was a fake. I find this an appalling act given that so many real lives were taken at the Nova festival, so many crimes committed, so many souls destroyed.

Today on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances our thoughts are with all the hostages taken by Hamas on 7/10. As Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock said, „the fact that we haven’t succeeded yet doesn‘t mean we should give up“. There needs to be a deal ASAP to #BringThemHomeNOW

An afternoon with Amir Tibon אמיר תיבון in Mishmar HaEmek, where the people of Nahal Oz found a temporary home, refugees in their own country. It was moving to meet again Gali Idan and sister Miki, still fighting for the return of Gali’s husband Tzachi, a hostage in Gaza. #bringthemhomenow

We all wake up to the horrible news of six more dead hostages found, killed by Hamas. One of them is Carmel Gat. Since 7/10 we at the embassy had stood with her family fighting for her release. Now there is only deepest sadness. Our hearts go out to all the bereaved families.

The only good news in sight on this dark day: the children of Gaza are being vaccinated against polio. Thank you to World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and COGAT for cooperating in this endeavour. A ceasefire is needed to give these children what they need in the long term.

Like many diplomats I took part in the Hostage and Missing Families Forum‘s vigil for the six murdered hostages - and for all those hostages still remaining in Gaza. Here‘s what I wrote:

Chancellor Scholz yesterday spoke of his sadness and anger over the death of six hostages, killed by Hamas. He calls for a deal to free the hostages and bring a ceasefire now, „other considerations should stand back“.

Humanitarian aid is teamwork: the Joint Coordination Board in the Negev where 🇮🇱, 🇺🇸, 🇺🇳 and other agencies work together to get aid to the suffering population in Gaza safely. Good to see this joint effort - though still much more is needed.

That’s class. I have always wanted to see Hapoel Jerusalem FC play. Now I know for sure: gotta buy tickets soon.

Terrible news about an attacker firing shots near the Israeli Consulate and the NS Documentation Center in Munich this morning, exactly 52 years after the murder of Israeli athletes in Germany. I am relieved that our police managed to foil the attack.

There is no higher duty than to bring home the hostages. Like on every visit, Foreign Minister Baerbock met family members of our fellow Germans held by Hamas - and heard their urgent pleas to seal a deal now. Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (c) Photothek

The last weekend showed dramatically: pure military pressure puts the hostages‘ lives at risk. Foreign Minister Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock on the priority of making a deal now.