Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock has called on Israel and Hamas to reach a quick compromise in the stalled Gaza negotiations. However, the signs of a breakthrough are poor – despite a new proposal from the USA.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has urged the radical Islamist Hamas and Israel to reach a compromise in talks about a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages.
There is an urgent need for a breakthrough in the indirect negotiations between the conflicting parties in Cairo, demanded the Green politician at a meeting with Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi in Berlin. “Everyone has to bring themselves to do this now, even if it hurts.” The Federal Foreign Minister emphasized that “those who still have influence on Hamas are currently particularly challenged.”
Hamas circles: Israelis are not interested in a ceasefire
However, according to information from Hamas circles in the Lebanese capital Beirut, the indirect negotiations for a ceasefire are “not going well.” The Israelis are therefore only interested in the “hostage issue” and not in a ceasefire. There is currently no official information on the current status of negotiations.
After talks in Cairo, Hamas representatives left the Egyptian capital on Monday for consultations with their leadership. Since Israel and Hamas do not speak to each other directly, the USA, Qatar and Egypt act as mediators.
report about Compromise proposal of the USA
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal, citing Arab mediators, reported on a current US compromise proposal. The report said the proposal presented by CIA Director William Burns in Cairo on Sunday evening would involve the Islamist Hamas releasing 40 of the more than 100 hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners – including 100 – during a six-week ceasefire , who were sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Israelis. Israel should in turn allow up to 150,000 displaced Palestinians to return to the north of the coastal area.
“Can’t give any more excuses”
Foreign Minister Baerbock also demanded that the hostages still in the hands of Hamas must finally be released. “Only in this way will we achieve a humanitarian ceasefire that leads to a sustainable ceasefire so that the deaths in Gaza finally stop, so that the violence, so that the suffering for Israel and for the Palestinians finally stops.”
Baerbock called on the Israeli government to quickly implement the announcement to open the port of Ashdod next to the Erez border crossing for aid transport in order to supply the civilian population in the north of the Gaza Strip. The announcement has not yet been implemented. Baerbock said they had been campaigning for months to open Erez and Ashdod for aid deliveries, adding: “These are important steps.” There should now be “no more excuses” from the Israeli side.
In recent days, partners such as Jordan and the United Nations have presented concrete proposals on how aid supplies could be brought quickly into Gaza.
Christina Nagel, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, April 9, 2024 4:16 p.m