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Foreign Minister Baerbock in Cairo: “There should not be a major offensive on Rafah”
Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
According to estimates, thousands of people have already died as a result of Israel's ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip, and the population in the sealed-off coastal area is now threatened with famine. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) wants to work towards an end to the fighting during a trip to the region.
During a visit to Egypt, Baerbock spoke out clearly against Israel's planned offensive in the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. "There should not be a major offensive on Rafah," said Baerbock at Cairo airport. »People cannot disappear into thin air.«
In the city, it is estimated that 1.5 million of the 2.2 million residents of the Gaza Strip are currently seeking shelter in a confined space from the fighting in other parts of the coastal area. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the army has drawn up plans to bring civilians to safety.
Baerbock speaks of “Hell of Gaza”
In view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Baerbock also emphasized on Monday that aid deliveries from the air and by sea could only make a small contribution. “What we need is the opening of the land route.” The Israeli government has a responsibility to guarantee access to food and water as well as safe places to flee.
Even before their departure, Baerbock had called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” for the Gaza Strip. According to the minister, more than a million children, women and men are at risk of hunger in the “hell of Gaza”.
Baerbock: “No hostage will be freed if children starve in Gaza.”
The Green politician also accused Israel of not distinguishing strongly enough between military and civilian targets. This, as well as the terrible humanitarian situation, further promoted terror in the Gaza Strip, said Baerbock. "No hostage will be freed if children in Gaza are currently starving."
The minister advocated seeing the suffering on both sides and not playing it off against each other. »We must do everything to ensure that the terrible situation for the people in Gaza finally ends. And we must do everything we can to ensure that the families who have been waiting for their loved ones, their daughters, sons and parents for over five months, that these people finally come home and that the threat to Israel from the terrorist organization Hamas ends.
Baerbock will travel on Monday to Israel and the West Bank. Among other things, a meeting is planned there with Baerbock's Palestinian colleague Riyad al-Maliki and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
In response to the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,140 people were killed and more than 250 abducted, Israel is taking massive military action in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, more than 32,100 people were killed. Hamas does not differentiate between civilians and its fighters. The information cannot be independently verified, but is considered credible by international organizations.
fek/dpa