Germany reiterates deep concern over situation in Gaza

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Friday reiterated its deep concern about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, which is under Israeli siege amid an extensive onslaught.

“It is clear, and you also heard this from the foreign minister, how much Germany is concerned about the situation of the people in Gaza,” German Deputy Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said at a press briefing in Berlin.

The conflict is causing “great harm to the people of Gaza,” she added.

Deschauer said unequivocally, "We clearly expect the Israeli side that civilians need to be better protected.”

Earlier this week, a top chancellery official reiterated his deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation and surging death toll in Gaza.

Earlier on Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged “better access to humanitarian aid” for Gazans.

“We call for the Palestinians in Gaza to finally have better access to humanitarian aid and for the civilian population to be better protected during military operations,” the chancellor said. Scholz made it clear that "only a negotiated two-state solution would open up the prospect of a sustainable solution to the Middle East conflict."

Israel continues its onslaught on the Gaza Strip where at least 27,947 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 67,459 injured since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.