Hamas has more than 200 kidnapped people in its control. Defense Minister Pistorius emphasized in Tel Aviv that their release is now the most urgent task. In Berlin, relatives appealed to the government to act quickly.
According to Israeli information, more than 200 people are still being held by the militant Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip – including eight Germans. The release of the people is the most urgent task, said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Tel Aviv.
He assured his Israeli counterpart Joav Galant of Germany’s support – including with material for the Israeli armed forces. The federal government and Germany stand on Israel’s side, said Pistorius. “This has nothing to do with a war that Hamas started here. This is a terrorist attack,” said the SPD politician. “This inhumane brutality has deeply shocked us in Germany.”
Galant: “Never again” is not just a slogan
Israeli Defense Minister Galant announced decisive action. “I can say to all of you: ‘Never again’ is not a slogan for the Israeli military in Israel, it is a commitment,” he said at the meeting with Pistorius. “Israel has been brutally attacked by IS and Hamas in Gaza,” the Israeli minister made clear. “We will do everything we can to destroy Hamas and we will do everything possible to bring our hostages home.”
Pistorius also said: “My thoughts are with the hostages and their relatives, who must be dying of worry at this stage.” He is very determined, together with the federal government, to free these people from their captivity and torment. After meeting Galant, he also met with families of the abductees.
Relatives of German hostages in the Bundestag
According to its own statements, the federal government has so far had no contact with the eight kidnapped Germans. At a meeting with Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, the families of the hostages called for more support from Germany.
“We talked about how we really expect Germany not just to side with Israel and take our side, but to act actively and take a role in this war,” said relative Roni Roman after the meeting with the SPD. Politician in the German Bundestag. Her sister and her child are among those kidnapped.
Bundestag President Bas spoke to the relatives of the abductees in the Bundestag.
Relatives: Germany must act quickly
Roman called on Germany to immediately provide humanitarian aid to ensure that those abducted can receive medical care. She emphasized the need to obtain signs of life from the abductees and bring them back to Germany immediately. “We really need Germany to act quickly,” she emphasized. “We are running out of time. There are family members who we know have been kidnapped, but we have not known how they are doing for several weeks.”