Not immediately, but sustainably
Baerbock and Cameron call for a ceasefire in the Middle East
December 17, 2023, 5:16 a.m
In a joint newspaper article, the German Foreign Minister and her British counterpart spoke out in favor of a ceasefire in the war in the Middle East. But this cannot happen immediately and not unilaterally either. Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasizes that the goal remains “total victory” against Hamas.
Germany and Great Britain have called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza war. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her British colleague David Cameron demanded a joint contribution for the British “Sunday Times”: “Our goal cannot simply be an end to the fighting today. It must be a peace that lasts for days, years and generations. We therefore support a ceasefire, but only if it is sustainable.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sticking to his line of continuing the war against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip until there is “total victory.” Regarding Hamas’ demands for a cessation of fighting and withdrawal of troops, Netanyahu said, according to The Times of Israel newspaper: “The moment we capitulate to this demand, Hamas has won. And we are obliged (Hamas ) and get all the hostages back.
Cameron and the Green Party politician Baerbock did not speak out in favor of an immediate ceasefire, but showed understanding for such demands. “It is an understandable response to so much suffering and we share the view that this conflict cannot be allowed to drag on. That is why we supported the recent humanitarian pauses,” the PA news agency quoted the post as saying. But calls for a general and immediate ceasefire ignore the reasons why Israel is forced to defend itself. “Hamas has barbarously attacked Israel and continues to fire rockets every day to kill Israeli citizens.” Hamas must “lay down its weapons,” write the Foreign Minister and her British counterpart.
Israel has the right to defend itself, but must comply with international humanitarian law, said the two foreign ministers. “Israel will not win this war if its operations destroy the prospect of peaceful coexistence with the Palestinians.” Too many civilians are being killed in the effort to eliminate the Hamas threat. “The Israeli government should do more to differentiate between terrorists and civilians and ensure that its fight targets Hamas leaders and agents,” Cameron and Baerbock said. US President Joe Biden had previously called on Israel to show more consideration for the civilian population.