Cool reception in Tel Aviv
Baerbock wants to “pull out all the stops” for Gaza aid
March 26, 2024, 11:57 p.m
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Germany is one of Israel’s closest allies. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Baerbock draws attention to the dramatic situation of the population in the Gaza Strip and warns of an offensive in Rafah. That’s not something the Israeli government likes to hear. Accordingly, Barbock received a cool reception in Tel Aviv.
In view of the plight of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wants to boost the stalling aid flows. “Given the suffering in Gaza, we can no longer afford the discussion about exactly where the bottleneck is now and who is to blame,” said the Green politician in Tel Aviv after a visit to the Israeli Gaza border crossing Kerem Shalom.
She was told by both the Egyptian and Israeli sides “that the bottleneck is, above all, reloading between trucks, where in some cases it is reloaded three times and inspected three times,” said Baerbock. So “we need a way to stop doing this three-time reloading.” She will work to massively expand a Jordanian concept in which small numbers of trucks drive directly into Gaza and are no longer reloaded at the border. Germany will “pull out all the stops to ensure that this happens in the next few days”. Until now, trucks coming from Egypt or Jordan have had to be reloaded onto Palestinian trucks before entering Gaza and then transported further by Palestinian drivers.
She also made it clear to the Israeli authorities that, together with the Netherlands, they would provide additional scanners with which security checks could be carried out, said Baerbock. If necessary, European inspectors could also be provided. Germany is one of the largest donors of humanitarian goods.
A large part of the aid does not reach the Gaza Strip
Unfortunately, large parts of the food aid that Germany financed through the World Food Program is in Jordan, for example. “We must now do everything we can to ensure that these goods that are there finally reach the people,” demanded Baerbock. Aid for the World Food Program has been increased by a further 10 million euros.
The lives of the hostages and their families have been “hell for five months,” said Baerbock. “The hostages must finally be released.” At the same time, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “hell.”
Katz: “We expect friends to strengthen us”
Baerbock continued her sixth visit to Israel since the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas in the morning with a conversation with her colleague Israel Katz. At the meeting in Jerusalem, behind closed doors, the current points of contention with the Israeli government were discussed in a clear tone: the UN demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of all hostages and more help for the suffering civilian population. Baerbock may also have mentioned her efforts to achieve a future two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
Given the difficult topics, the public greeting between Baerbock and Katz seemed cold, professional and not very warm. There was the usual handshake and smile for the cameras. Baerbock and Katz hardly made eye contact.
According to Katz, the UN Security Council’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza has strengthened Hamas and led it to reject a US compromise proposal on a new hostage deal. He told the Israeli army radio station that he was disappointed that the US did not veto the resolution. “We expect friends to strengthen us in this difficult time and not to weaken us against Hamas and all the other enemies,” said Katz.
Baerbock said she had agreed with Katz to send a delegation to Israel that would “discuss the pressing issues of international humanitarian law with the Israeli government.” “As a signatory to the Geneva Convention, Germany is obliged to remind all parties of their duty to comply with international humanitarian law.”
Israeli settlement construction “obstructs peace”
During her trip, the Federal Foreign Minister demanded that the Palestinian Authority, which rules in the West Bank, must continue to reform itself with a future technocratic government. But she needs access to Gaza “and the certainty that Gaza and, above all, the West Bank are one.” In this context, Israeli settlement construction is always opening up “new gaps and thus also security threats”. Baerbock criticized: “This is literally blocking the two-state solution. This is literally blocking peace.” She also continues to advocate for violent radical settlers to face consequences.
According to media reports, Israel’s civil administration has declared 800 hectares in the West Bank as Israeli state land. Among other things, hundreds of settler apartments are to be built in the area. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. The two-state solution means an independent Palestinian state that exists peacefully side by side with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects a two-state solution, as does Hamas.
After a meeting with her Egyptian colleague Samih Schukri in the capital Cairo, Baerbock again expressly warned Israel’s government on Monday about the planned ground offensive in Rafah. In Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, it is estimated that around half of the coastal region’s 2.2 million residents are seeking shelter from the fighting in other parts of Gaza in a small area. The army wants to bring civilians to safety in “humanitarian islands” on the Mediterranean and also provide them with food and medical aid.