Hamas kidnapped more than 100 people – including Germans. Foreign Minister Baerbock emphasizes in the daily topics, she is “in non-stop communication” to help the hostages. The terrorists were playing a perfidious game.
After the terrorist attacks on Israel by the Islamist Hamas, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke out daily topics shown to be deeply affected. “It was like 9/11 for the Americans,” said the Green Party politician. “It’s just terrible.”
The attacks represented a clear turning point, said Baerbock. Everyone in Israel knows someone who is affected – “sometimes even family members.” She reiterated that Israel’s security was German and European reasons of state.
The Foreign Office announced yesterday that there were Germans among the approximately 150 hostages kidnapped by Hamas. Baerbock did not say how many Germans were being held. According to information from ZDF, at least five Germans were kidnapped. At least one German is said to have been killed.
Baerbock: “Non-stop exchange” to help hostages
The minister emphasized that she was in “non-stop” exchange with colleagues from the region and actors who “have direct channels of communication with Hamas.” Everything is being tried with regard to the hostages, “but with a terrorist organization like Hamas it is of course anything but easy,” emphasized the politician. There is also information about “barbaric rapes and slaughters even of small children in Israel.”
“Unfortunately, the core of terrorism is to create as much terror, as much unbelievability as possible.” It is a “perfidious game” that the terrorist organization is playing. The hostages would be used as human shields, “just like the local civilian population,” said Baerbock.
There are discussions with Egypt, Jordan and Qatar. Germany and its European partners tried to make it clear to the Gulf states that terrorism has no place in the region. Talking to all actors – that is crisis diplomacy to end the “terrible bloodshed”. “We try to influence actors on all channels,” said Baerbock.
“Aid to Palestinians is regularly monitored”
The major Hamas attack has also led to debates about aid to Palestinians. Some claimed that Germany was transferring money directly to the Palestinian Authority, the Foreign Minister said. “That is not the case in development aid.” Nevertheless, the aid is checked regularly.
However, it is important “that we do not stop the food supply, the water supply, i.e. the humanitarian aid to the two million Palestinians who depend on it,” said Baerbock. Because the terrorists would use that too. They relied on “playing with the needs and suffering of the population”. Baerbock added: “Even if your heart is burning, you should keep a cool head in such situations.”