6/24/2024–|Last updated: 6/24/202411:40 PM (Mecca time)
Germany expressed its deep concern about what it described as the escalation of violence on Israel’s borders with Lebanon, and the increasing risk of a broader conflict in the region, and called for a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during her speech at a security conference in Israel on Monday, warned that Israel may “lose itself” in the war with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and that the growing anger over the suffering of civilians in Gaza undermines Israel’s security.
“We are very concerned about the increase in violence on the northern border. I will visit Beirut again tomorrow for exactly this reason,” Baerbock said.
She added, “We are working tirelessly with our partners to find solutions that can prevent increasing suffering, as the risk of unintended escalation and all-out war is increasing day by day.”
She continued, “As a friend of Israel, I want to be frank: This anger does not help Israel meet its security needs. On the contrary, it only serves Hamas’ campaign to provoke further escalation.”
Birbock highlighted the humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying that at least 17,000 children have lost or been separated from their parents so far.
It pointed to reports of human rights violations, including the torture of detainees and the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank by extremist settlers.
A truce in Gaza
In other statements today, Monday, in Luxembourg, which is hosting a meeting of European Union foreign ministers, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called today for a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip, before setting off on a visit to the Middle East.
Birbock, whose country supports Tel Aviv in its war on Gaza, said that she will begin a visit to the Middle East today that will include Israel, Palestine and Lebanon.
She stated that there is a need for a humanitarian truce in Gaza, and claimed that the scenes coming from Gaza and the thoughts about the prisoners who are still kidnapped are heartbreaking.
She added, “For me, for us, and for our partners, burying our heads in the sand now is not an option at all.” She also stressed that the Israeli prisoners detained in the Gaza Strip must be released, and the suffering of the Palestinians must end.
Like other European countries, the war on the Gaza Strip sparked popular opposition in Germany, with the number of martyrs in the Strip rising to more than 37,000 so far, which prompted the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to toughen its tone regarding Israel’s behavior, compared to what was the case at the beginning of the aggression. On Gaza.