"Standing for the People in Gaza: Wadephul's Tough Talk with Israel's Foreign Minister"
During his visit as Foreign Minister, Wadephul openly expresses critical remarks towards Israel.
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Israel's government is under fire for pushing forward with more Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul considers a violation of international law. "This settlement policy is a brick wall to the two-state solution," Wadephul declared during a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Berlin.
The volatile situation in the West Bank leaves Wadephul uneasy. He acknowledged that Germany, as a friend, has a responsibility to express its concerns. "Advocating annexation of the West Bank by individual government members is a trust-buster - not just with neighbors, allies, or closest friends, but also with principles of justice," Wadephul asserted.
Wadephul's primary worry is the people of Gaza, who are struggling to get basic necessities such as food and medicine. He is concerned about their prolonged journeys to reach aid distribution points, with some even losing their lives along the way. Wadephul insists that humanitarian aid organizations should be granted immediate and unfettered access to the Gaza Strip, not only for the sake of humanity but also as per international law1[2].
Despite his unwavering support for Israel, Germany cannot overlook the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, Wadephul stressed. "Germany supports Israel's security and existence, but we are bound by international law," he reiterated. He desires a peaceful coexistence between Israel and its neighbors1.
The feud over humanitarian aid in Gaza isn't only about compassion; it's also about how aid is delivered. Israel believes the old system of aid delivery through the UN and international aid organizations was a straightforward path for militant groups such as Hamas to raise funds1. The new system, supported by the USA's GHF foundation, appears to prevent Hamas from benefiting1.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar defended his country's military actions in Gaza. He claimed the Israeli army was the most moral in the world, fighting according to international law1. Saar also rejected responsibility for the suffering in the Gaza Strip, placing the blame on Hamas1.
Despite criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza, Germany's Union faction in the Bundestag remains against imposing a weapons embargo against Israel1. Armin Laschet, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized that arms exports would not be restricted during times of threat to Israel. However, the SPD and Greens urged the government to assess each case of weapons delivery, encouraging the avoidance of weapons from being used in Gaza or the West Bank to violate international law1.
Protests against the armed conflict in Israel and Gaza continue, with calls for an immediate end to arms exports to Israel. The representative of the Palestinian Authority in Germany, Laith Arafeh, watched the debate from the visitors' gallery1. The far-left party leader Ines Schwerdtner called for an emergency halt to all arms exports to Israel, while the deputy AfD faction leader Beatrix von Storch expressed support for Israel in the face of alleged terrorist threats1.
- The Parliament is expected to debate a resolution on the Commission communication on the future of the European Union, where the volatile politics in the West Bank and the general-news situation in Gaza could be potentially raised as points of concern.
- The ongoing crisis in Gaza, despite being a matter of serious general-news concern, is also a topic of discussion within the context of politics around the Commission's communication on the future of the European Union, given Germany's position on international law and humanitarian aid.
