Baerbock: Prospect of humanitarian pauses in the Gaza Strip "crucial" for the protection of civilians
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has emphasized the urgency of humanitarian aid for the people in the Gaza Strip on the occasion of her return visit to the Middle East. The prospect of the daily ceasefires promised by Israel is "central" to this, said the Minister on the occasion of her upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
"The people in Gaza urgently need supplies of the essentials - water, food, medicine - so that their suffering can be alleviated somewhat," emphasized Baerbock. "Together with our partners, we are working continuously to find more ways and options for effective humanitarian aid."
According to the US government, Israel had agreed to daily four-hour breaks in fighting in the Gaza Strip on Thursday to protect the civilian population. At the same time, Baerbock assured Israel that it could "firmly and unwaveringly" count on Germany in its defense against the terror of the radical Islamic Hamas. However, Israel must do everything in its power to protect civilians.
With regard to the efforts for the release of the hostages abducted by Hamas and humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, Baerbock explained that there was only a chance of success "if we pull together with the Arab Gulf states".
Following Hamas' brutal attack on Israel on October 7, Baerbock had already traveled to Israel last month on a solidarity visit and had also held talks on the conflict in other countries in the region.
Source: www.ntv.de
