Germany calls on US and Israel to seek perspective for real peace in Gaza

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on the US and Israel to make every effort to reach a “perspective for real peace” in the Gaza Strip.

“The civilian population in #Gaza has been through the worst. Food, medicine and reconstruction are now the most important things,” Baerbock wrote on social media yesterday. “The ceasefire is also needed for this, and international law is clear: there must be no expulsion from Gaza.”

The German official pointed out that the ceasefire is currently hanging by a thread, and criticised Hamas for jeopardising the deal with recent statements. However, she ignored Israel’s failure to fully implement its obligations under the agreement.

“The Israeli government and the US must also do everything to ensure that we get into the second phase of the deal and to a perspective for real peace,” said Baerbock.

On 19 January, a three-phase ceasefire agreement came into effect in the Gaza Strip as well as a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel, each phase lasting 42 days. Negotiations are to be held in order to start the second and third phases, mediated by Egypt and Qatar and supported by the US.

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army attacks Palestinians almost daily using its drones in various parts of the Strip, killing and wounding people, including children and the elderly.

The head of the government media office in the Gaza Strip, Salama Maarouf, confirmed on Friday that despite 20 days having passed since the agreement came into force in the Gaza Strip, the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the enclave are still deteriorating due to Israeli procrastination in implementing the agreement.

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