Germany's Scholz pledges to work with Israel on aid for Gaza
October 19, 2023
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday, following up on his visit to Israel earlier this week.
"In these difficult times our place is at the side of Israel," he said, while adding that civilians in Gaza were "at the mercy of Hamas," and that providing humanitarian aid had to be part of any strategy moving forward.
"Israel has every right to defend itself, but we are very clear in our conversations with our friends in Israel that humanitarian aid also is part of the picture," he said.
Israel declared war on the Hamas militant group after a terrorist attack on southern Israeli communities by Hamas fighters on October 7. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, Germany and several other countries.
Humanitarian aid in focus
Since the terror attacks, Israel has responded by cutting off Gaza from power, water, and food supplies, which the UN has warned was quickly leading to a humanitarian crisis as stocks of basic supplies dwindle. Gaza is also in urgent need of medical supplies.
On Wednesday evening, US President Biden said a deal had been reached with Egypt to allow limited aid deliveries to cross the Rafah border with Gaza.
On Wednesday, Scholz was in Egypt to discuss efforts to negotiate the release of hostages taken from Israel into the Gaza Strip by Hamas fighters and the opening of a humanitarian corridor into the territory.
Addressing the German parliament, he said he had spoken to Israel, Jordan and Egypt in order to "explore ways to make [humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza] possible," adding that he stressed the importance of keeping the conflict "limited" in talks with regional leaders.
The chancellor said that everything had to be done to avoid further regional escalation, and that entry of Iran or Hezbollah into the war "would be a grave mistake."
Releasing hostages a priority
Scholz also said one of the most important tasks ahead was to make sure that hostages taken by Hamas were released "without any preconditions," adding that he had spoke with relatives of hostages while in Tel Aviv. "You really sense their anguish and their fear."
The chancellor said that the European Council was "united" in its support of Israel.
Scholz also stressed that "antisemitism has no place in Germany."
He said that Germany could not allow protests where antisemitic statements are made.
A synagogue in Berlin was the target of an apparent firebombing attempt on Wednesday.
Germany has stepped up security measures around Jewish institutions since October 7.
sdi/wmr (dpa,AFP)
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