During his visit to Israel, CDU leader Merz supported the Netanyahu government – also with regard to the actions in Rafah. The military is doing everything it can to protect civilians. It is up to Hamas to avoid civilian casualties.
Union faction leader Friedrich Merz defended Israel’s military action against the militant Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip and also in the southern border town of Rafah.
“In my opinion, the Israeli government and the Israeli army are doing everything they can to protect the civilian population there,” said the CDU leader after a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
The civilian population is being used by Hamas as a protective shield in order to make the fight against terror more difficult. “In this respect, it is now up to Hamas to ensure that there are no more civilian victims,” added Merz.
“There will continue to be civilian casualties”
Israel warns against military operations by telephone and leaflets. Civilians would be asked to leave those areas in which military actions would then take place, said Merz. “But it is also true: there are civilian victims. There will continue to be civilian victims.”
At the same time, he emphasized: “The goal of finally defeating Hamas terror is, I think, a very understandable goal.” It is important that the Israeli army is now successful in destroying the terrorist organization, said the Union faction leader. “And that’s the path they’re on.”
The Bundestag group and also the CDU stand “behind the State of Israel, also behind the government, which is trying to really end this conflict now.”
Tense situation in Rafah
With regard to the Israeli military’s actions in the city of Rafah, Merz told the news channel ntv: “This is not an attack on Rafah. Rather, it is a further fight against terrorism in this region.” Netanyahu assured him very credibly that Israel would do everything to protect the civilian population.
More than a million refugees live in Rafah. Aid organizations speak of a catastrophic situation and warn of the loss of more lives if Israel advances into the city on the border with Egypt as announced.
Special forces free two hostages
Merz also congratulated Netanyahu on the release of two more hostages. In the early hours of the morning, Israel’s army freed civilian hostages for the first time since the terrorist attack on October 7th – a moving moment for all of Israel, especially because of the circumstances of the liberation.
According to reports, special forces from the army and secret service freed the men in a fierce firefight and, it was said, protected them with their own bodies. They are now being examined at a hospital near Tel Aviv.
Criticism of UNRWA
The discussions also discussed allegations of collaboration between employees of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA and Hamas. Merz told the news channel ntv that if UNRWA “is not in a position to really clearly refute any involvement in this terror, then there must be other institutions of the United Nations or the international community that provide humanitarian aid to this region “achieve the future”.
The Israeli military said it had recently discovered a Hamas tunnel that is said to run under the headquarters of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA in the city of Gaza.
In the afternoon, Merz met President Izchak Herzog and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Discussions with opposition leader Jair Lapid and Benny Gantz are also planned during the two-day trip to Israel. Gantz is a member of the Israeli war cabinet.
With information from Julio Segador, ARD Studio Tel Aviv
Julio Segador, ARD Tel Aviv, tagesschau, February 12, 2024 5:51 p.m