Germany reminds Israel of its obligations under international law

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday reminded Israel of its obligations under international law, amid growing civilian casualties and worrying signs of famine in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels ahead of an EU leaders’ summit, Scholz said they are going to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and other important international issues.

“What we need is a longer-lasting cease-fire, and as always we assume that the Israeli government will adhere to what is enshrined in international law during its military activities in the Gaza Strip,” he said.

Scholz renewed his call on the Israeli government to refrain from a large military offensive in Rafah, where over 1.4 million Palestinian civilians are currently sheltering.

“We are not in favor of a major offensive in Rafah, I have also emphasized this during my visit to Israel,” he said, referring to his meetings with Israeli counterparts on Sunday in Tel-Aviv.

Scholz underlined that an agreement on a longer-lasting cease-fire could facilitate the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians.

“I told the Israeli government that our goal must be to get to 500 trucks or equivalent. Humanitarian assistance can also be delivered by aid ships, or via air drops. But the most important means is land routes, deliveries by trucks. This is what needs to be further expanded,” he said.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.

Nearly 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and more than 74,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.