War in the Middle East
Blinken calls for further civilian casualties to be avoided
“We want to work together and coordinate our efforts to help Gaza stabilize and recover”: Antony Blinken. photo
© Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters/AP/dpa
In view of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the risks of an expansion of the conflict, Germany and the USA are conducting intensive shuttle diplomacy. The overview.
The USA and Germany, as important allies of Israel, are pushing for more efforts to protect and care for civilians in the Gaza war. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for further casualties among the civilian population to be avoided during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the War Cabinet in Tel Aviv Gaza Strip and more humanitarian aid.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urgently called for new humanitarian ceasefires to supply the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip – as well as the release of the approximately 130 hostages kidnapped from Israel and held by the Islamist Hamas. The two ministers are currently on mediation trips lasting several days in the Middle East.
Baerbock calls for more targeted military deployment by Israel
“The Israeli army must do more to protect civilians in Gaza,” said the Green politician during a visit to Egypt. Baerbock called for a significantly less intensive, more targeted anti-terror operation. “And we need more humanitarian breaks so that significantly more aid can be distributed to the people,” she said at a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Samih Shukri in the new capital east of Cairo. Baerbock, who had previously been to Israel, also visited the border with the Gaza Strip.
According to a statement from the US State Department, Blinken also emphasized Israel’s right to do everything possible to ensure that a terrorist attack like the one carried out by Hamas on October 7th does not happen again. The US minister previously visited Saudi Arabia on Monday and, according to a report in the Times of Israel, said: “We want to work together and coordinate our efforts to help Gaza stabilize and recover, a political path for the Palestinians and work towards long-term peace, security and stability.”
The USA also wants to prevent the conflict from spreading to neighboring states – especially Lebanon. In Lebanon, an important commander of the Shiite militia Hezbollah, Wissam al-Tauil, was killed in a drone strike on Monday. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said his country was behind the attack. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, there have been repeated confrontations between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Another key Hezbollah member killed in a suspected Israeli attack in southern Lebanon.
Baerbock hands over aid supplies for the Gaza Strip
The German Foreign Minister handed over almost ten tons of aid for the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip to the Egyptian Red Crescent. These are sleeping mats, blankets, camp beds and children’s sleeping bags for people who live in temporary accommodation. Baerbock flew from Cairo in an Air Force A400M transporter to the capital of the Egyptian North Sinai Governorate on the Mediterranean, Al-Arish. From there she visited the border town of Rafah, around 50 kilometers to the west.
Baerbock then expressed his shock at the plight of the people in the Gaza Strip and spoke of a “medical disaster”. She called for better access to medical and humanitarian assistance.
WHO: Emergency forces unnecessary amputations in the Gaza Strip
Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) again called for a ceasefire to provide better care for the people. According to them, numerous amputations have to be carried out in the Gaza Strip, although the limbs could actually be saved. The injured often arrive late because they could not reach hospitals earlier due to ongoing fighting, said WHO emergency medical team coordinator Sean Casey. There was a lack of specialists there, such as vascular surgeons. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, more than 23,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip so far.
Blinken sees “opportunities” for rapprochement in the Middle East
Despite the Gaza war, US Secretary of State Blinken recognizes “real opportunities” for Israel’s future rapprochement with Arab states in the region. He said this at a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Katz. On Monday, Blinken said there was still a clear interest on the part of Saudi Arabia in rapprochement with Israel. “But for this to happen, the conflict in Gaza must end, and a practical path to a Palestinian state will also be necessary,” he said.
According to Habeck, Germany plays a special role
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck sees a special role for Germany in dealing with the Gaza war given its close relations with Israel. “Of course we speak clearly to each other out of solidarity,” said the Green politician in Muscat, the capital of the Gulf state of Oman. For example, they are urging that Israel not bomb any areas, that humanitarian and medical care for the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip is ensured and that there are no famines. Habeck is also traveling to several Middle Eastern countries this week.