Israel plans to clear the city of Rafah, where millions of people are hiding after five months of war.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during a visit to Israel on Sunday, March 17, announced the “very high cost” of Israel’s offensive against the Hamas group in Gaza. He said the world cannot stand by and watch as Palestinians face starvation in the enclave, Reuters reported.
After talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Scholz shared his concerns about the high number of civilian casualties and insufficient aid flowing into Gaza, where groups say help the famine.
The warning was sharp enough for the German leader, who has always supported Israel’s right to self-defense since Hamas attacked the country on Oct. 7, the report said. Germany has always been one of Israel’s staunchest allies, along with the states, and noted its duty to support the country.
“The more the situation of the people in Gaza worsens, the more the question arises: no matter how important the goal is, can it justify the massive casualties, are there other ways to achieve your goal?” Scholz said in a joint Netanyahu appearance.
International allies and critics have urged Netanyahu to stop the attack on Rafah, predicting possible mass civilian casualties. However, Israel claims Rafah is one of the last Hamas strongholds it aims to destroy and has vowed to evacuate residents.
“How can we protect more than 1.5 million people? Where are they going?” – asked Scholz. He warned that the large number of civilian casualties that could result from the attack on Rafah would “complicate peace in the region.”
After talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba, Scholz stressed the need for “an urgent and massive improvement in terms of aid distribution.”
“We cannot remain indifferent and watch as Palestinians face starvation,” he stressed.
Scholz’s trip on Sunday to Jordan and Israel came after Israel approved on Friday a plan to attack the city of Rafah on the southern edge of the devastated Palestinian enclave, where millions of residents are hiding after a five-month war.
Let’s remember that at the end of February Netanyahu presented a plan for a post-war settlement in Gaza.
Total defeat of Hamas. Israel’s operation in Gaza
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.