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Netanyahu and Baerbock at a meeting in Israel

Photo: Thomas Koehler / photothek / IMAGO

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces tough military action in Rafah. "We will fight until complete victory, and that includes a powerful operation in Rafah," he wrote on Telegram. Before that, the civilian population will be allowed to leave the combat zones.

In another video statement, Netanyahu reiterated that military pressure was the only way to secure the release of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The 112 hostages freed so far have been released through a combination of "strong military pressure and steadfast negotiations."

Around 1.3 million people have sought refuge from the fighting in the city of Rafah, located at the southern end of the Gaza Strip.

Baerbock calls for a ceasefire to free hostages

Such an offensive on Rafah could end in a humanitarian catastrophe, warned German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her fifth visit to Israel since the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7. »1.3 million people are waiting there in a very small space. “You can’t go anywhere else at the moment,” said the minister in Jerusalem. People needed “safe places and safe corridors to avoid being further caught in the crossfire.” More border crossings would have to be opened so that more aid and medicine could be imported. The UN employees must be able to rely on security guarantees.

The Foreign Minister also called for a new ceasefire. This would open up a window of time "to free the hostages and to get more humanitarian aid in," said Baerbock. She called on the warring parties to accept a proposal from Qatar and Egypt for a ceasefire and the release of more hostages.

The security of the people of Israel from Hamas' terror is just as important as the survival of the people of Gaza, said the minister. "Hamas' terror has also brought nothing but death and suffering to Gaza." If they had compassion for their own people, the Hamas fighters would immediately lay down their weapons, she said.

It is Germany's responsibility to stand up for Israel's right to self-defense within the framework of international law so that a terrorist attack like the one on October 7th can never happen again.

EU should consider sanctions against settlers in the West Bank

Baerbock added that Germany was urging the European Union to consider sanctions against extremist settlers attacking Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. France, the US and Britain have already imposed sanctions on violent settlers. »We should agree on sanctions together in Europe. For this we need all 27 Member States. We as Germans have brought this onto the European path.«

After her arrival, the minister was received by her counterpart Israel Katz. Katz thanked her for Germany's continued support of Israel, his office said afterwards. In the afternoon, Baerbock met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then opposition leader Yair Lapid. A meeting with President Isaac Herzog is planned for Thursday.

mgo/AFP/dpa/Reuters