Germany increases humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories

2023-11-12 08:54:44, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany increases humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories

Tel Aviv - Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock

In the background of the situation of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, Germany will increase the humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territories by 38 million euros. This was communicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, after a conversation with the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtaje in Ramallah in West Jordan. With this addition, Germany's overall aid provided this year to the Palestinian territories reaches over 160 million euros.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock meets in Ramallah, West Jordan, with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Schatje

"Every life is equally precious. Everyone in Israel or in Palestine has the right to live in peace and security," Baerbock emphasized. An important first step for the people of Gaza is humanitarian pauses. "These should be expanded even further," Baerbock urged. Security of supply should also be given to hospitals in the north of the Gaza Strip.

On Saturday evening (11.11.2023), the German Foreign Minister had meetings with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen and opposition leader Jair Lapid in Tel Aviv, as well as a conversation with opposition politician Benny Gantz, who is part of the cabinet crisis led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the trip to the Middle East, German diplomat Baerbock's agenda includes the situation of hostages in the hands of militant-Islamic Hamas, the humanitarian situation of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and possible peace in the future through a two-state solution. Baerbock is making his third visit to the Middle East region since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

Germany increases humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories

During the talks in Saudi Arabia, Baerbock again committed to a humanitarian cessation of the Israel-Hamas fighting to enable supplies to the suffering population in the Gaza Strip. In the talks with the representatives of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, there was an agreement that "the cessation of fighting is necessary to enable the supply of humanitarian aid", according to the delegation that accompanies the Foreign Minister on visits to the Middle East.

Also, during these talks, the parties were of the same opinion, that peace for the Palestinians and Israel is only possible with a perspective for a two-state solution, it is further said regarding the talks in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Scholz: Israel must remain a safe place for Jews from around the world

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of Israel as a safe haven for Jews. "It is important to know throughout the world that this country exists", he emphasized in the framework of a two-day congress of the European Social Democrats (SPE) in your city of Spain, Malaga. Therefore, according to him, "our solidarity" with Israel should be clear.

"The terrible, barbaric attack by Hamas on the citizens of Israel, on the children, the elderly, the young people, who were participating in a festival, the humiliation filmed there, these are things that we will never accept." Scholz said.

At the same time, he underlined that everything possible should be done to avoid an escalation of the conflict and to enable humanitarian aid for the people in the Gaza Strip. The chancellor also asked for a cessation of hostilities, so that the wounded, citizens of other countries and possibly hostages held by the radical Islamic Hamas can leave the Gaza Strip. The chancellor also emphasized Israel's right to oppose the terrorist organization Hamas./ DW