German foreign minister calls for rapid supply of aid to people in Gaza

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for the people of Gaza to be provided with aid "quickly and without hindrance."

In a statement posted Thursday on the German Foreign Ministry's website, Baerbock wrote that the humanitarian situation "is catastrophic for hundreds of thousands of innocent people there," adding "there is a lack of everything."

It is of "central importance that international aid, food, water and medical supplies reach the people of Gaza quickly and unhindered," she said.

Baerbock said that "far too many women, men and children have already died” and it is "important to me that we show the Palestinians that we also see their suffering. That is one of the reasons why I am travelling to the region."

Earlier Thursday, the German Foreign Ministry announced that Baerbock would travel to the Middle East again following her solidarity visit to Israel and talks in Egypt on Oct. 13 and 14.

This second trip is scheduled for Oct. 19-20 to Jordan, Israel and Lebanon. Baerbock also wrote in her statement that Germany's "unbreakable solidarity is with Israel in the fight against (the Palestinian group) Hamas."

Israel has "the right to defend itself against Hamas terror within the parameters laid down by international law for such exceptional situations," she said.

Baerbock called Hamas a "cruel opponent who is using people as human shields." It is "Hamas' perfidious calculation” that the "Palestinian civilian population is being exposed to death, hardship and suffering in order to create a breeding ground for further terrorism."

She also said she had appointed a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Assistance in the Middle East to coordinate Germany's aid efforts.

The special envoy will travel to the Middle East with her and work intensively "in coordination with our partners in the G-7, the EU and the region itself to establish humanitarian access to Gaza and to get supplies to the people there."

"Germany is prepared to provide comprehensive assistance," she added.