“We are united in Europe”
Scholz: Israel’s Rafah offensive “irresponsible”
May 18, 2024, 7:31 p.m
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“Anyone who wages a war is also responsible for the civilian population,” says Chancellor Scholz in the direction of Israel and warns of an offensive in the border town of Rafah. Battalions of the Islamist Hamas are suspected there.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned of a possible comprehensive military offensive in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and called for more help for the Palestinian population. “We agree, we in Germany, in Europe and also the American government: It is irresponsible to now think about an attack on Rafah, where many millions of refugees have found refuge and are unprotected,” said the SPD politician in Karlsruhe at his party’s campaign event for the European elections on June 9th. “This can’t end well.”
Sufficient humanitarian aid must also reach Gaza, he demanded – accompanied by the loud cries of dozens of protesters against the Gaza war. “500 trucks a day are the minimum. Anyone who wages a war is also responsible for humanity and for the civilian population who are victims of the war.”
A week ago, Israel’s army advanced from the east to Rafah despite strong international warnings. According to its own statements, it continued its operations in the southern city as well as in the center and north of the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
In Rafah, the Israeli leadership says it wants to destroy the last battalions of the Islamist Hamas believed to be there.
The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre with more than 1,200 deaths that terrorists from Hamas and other groups carried out in Israel on October 7th last year. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive. According to new information from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 35,380 people were killed.