Germany’s Baerbock urges Israel to respect international humanitarian law

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law, and take steps to better protect Palestinian civilians.

“Like any other country in the world, Israel has the right to defend itself. Like any country in the world, it must do so within the framework of international humanitarian law,” she said during her speech at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The German top diplomat warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become “catastrophic” in recent weeks, and urged the Israeli government to abide by the recent order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and allow more humanitarian aid to the region.

“Mothers like us, like me, are running from the fighting, dragging their crying kids behind them, in panic, in despair. Often children wandering the ruins of their homes, barefoot, hungry, alone. I sometimes imagine these were my daughters,” Baerbock said.

“We are working with many friends, non-stop, for a humanitarian pause, leading to a humanitarian cease-fire. Civilians must be protected, more aid must get through to the people of Gaza. That's also what I have told our Israeli partners in my five trips to the region since October,” she added.