Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said Israel's deadly raid on an aid convoy bound for the Gaza Strip had left her shocked and concerned about the fate of six Germans including two MPs.
"I spoke... on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, as well as with Turkish Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan, and I made clear my deep concern," Merkel told reporters in Berlin.
Merkel added that she had indicated to the two leaders that "we must do everything in our power, in this difficult situation, to make sure there is no escalation".
Expressing "shock" at the loss of life, Merkel called for a comprehensive "clearing-up" of the situation surrounding the deadly raid and added that international observers could help to accelerate this.
She also called for "information as soon as possible" about the fate of six German citizens, including two members of parliament who were on board the convoy.
The Germans were on board ships bringing aid to the Gaza Strip when it was attacked by Israeli forces early on Monday morning, leaving an estimated 19 people dead and injuring others.
Annette Groth and Inge Höger, both parliamentarians for the socialist Left party, and Norman Paech, a former MP for The Left, were among those participating in the aid mission, the party said. There has been no contact with the German MPssince.
According to Israel's private channel 10 television, the country’s marine commandos opened fire after being attacked with axes and knives by a number of the passengers on board the aid ships, though the station did not cite a source for the information.
