Baerbock calls for continuation of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for a continuation of the ceasefire in the war between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas. "In these minutes, we must do everything we can to ensure that the humanitarian ceasefire continues", Baerbock declared. This is necessary "both for the remaining hostages, who have been hoping for release in dark tunnels for weeks, and for the suffering people in Gaza, who urgently need more humanitarian aid".
The ceasefire, which had been in place for a week, expired on Friday morning. Israel then continued its military operation against Hamas, while the Palestinian organization fired rockets at Israel again. However, according to information from negotiating circles, talks on a new ceasefire are continuing under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.
"The suffering for the people of Israel is unbearable. The suffering for the people of Gaza is unbearable. This suffering must finally end for everyone," emphasized Baerbock. Israel will never be able to live in security "if terror is not combated". And at the same time, there could only be security for Israel "if the Palestinians also have prospects for the future".
However, this could only succeed if "Hamas' terror of annihilation no longer has a chance to regroup", Baerbock added. She referred to the attack in Jerusalem with at least three dead on Thursday, to which Hamas has claimed responsibility, as well as the new rocket attacks by the Islamist organization on Israel after the end of the ceasefire on Friday morning.
The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip came into force on Friday last week. During the ceasefire, a total of around one hundred Hamas hostages were released, including several Germans. In return, 240 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons.
Source: www.ntv.de
