The federal government is trying to free the hostages in the Gaza Strip. According to Foreign Minister Baerbock, at least eight Germans were deported there. The release is a “command of humanity”.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has confirmed that at least eight Germans are in the control of the radical Islamic terrorist group Hamas. These are the cases known so far, said the Green politician at a press conference in Cairo. The German embassy is in constant contact with the relatives.
All channels are used “to get information about whose hands the hostages are and to do everything possible to ensure that these innocent people are released.”
Baerbock again called on Hamas to release all hostages immediately. “These are innocent people, innocent children.” She did not give any details about those abducted – presumably to protect their families. But she emphasized to Hamas:
Release is a requirement of humanity.
Desperate relatives ask for help
Some relatives are now seeking publicity themselves. “Germany must use all its resources to help release the hostages,” said Joni Ascher to the KNA news agency. His wife Doron and his two young daughters, his mother-in-law Efrat and her partner Gadi have been missing since October 7th. Asher recognized his family from a video released by Hamas.
The family of 22-year-old Shani Louk had previously publicly asked for help for the young woman. She is said to be seriously injured in a hospital in the Gaza Strip.
Can Germans leave the Gaza Strip?
Baerbock defined the safe exit of Germans from the Gaza Strip as the second important topic. According to the Foreign Minister, she is also negotiating intensively about this. Most of them are people with dual citizenship who are supposed to come to Egypt via the Rafah border crossing. However, security is necessary for the border crossing to be opened.
The people in the Gaza Strip lack everything, said Baerbock. She emphasized that Hamas was responsible for the “desperate situation” of the people. “Hamas is hiding behind the civilian population in Gaza.”
On the other hand, new great suffering among the civilian population in Gaza “will not only create the breeding ground for new terrorism, but also endanger any steps towards rapprochement with the Arab neighbors that have been achieved in recent months,” warned Baerbock. This terrorist calculation must not work.
Lots of conversations in Cairo
In Cairo, the Foreign Minister met, among others, Egyptian Foreign Minister Samih Schukri, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
The discussions also discussed how humanitarian aid could be brought to the people in the Gaza Strip.