Israel must do more to protect aid workers in Gaza: Germany

By Oliver Towfigh Ni

BERLIN (AA) – Days after seven aid workers were killed by Israeli airstrikes, Germany on Wednesday called on Israel to intensify its efforts to protect humanitarian aid workers in besieged Gaza.

“Humanitarian workers in Gaza risk their lives every day to help people in need. We clearly expect the Israeli government to adapt its operations so that civilians are better protected and this of course applies in particular to female and male humanitarian aid workers,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told a press briefing in Berlin.

More than 200 humanitarian aid workers have so far lost their lives in Gaza. The safety of humanitarian aid workers is always part of the agenda of talks between German and Israeli officials, he added.

On Tuesday, Germany demanded a thorough investigation into Israel’s killing of seven aid workers who were delivering food to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

“The Israeli government must investigate this terrible incident quickly and thoroughly,” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on X, expressing deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims.

“Humanitarian workers must be able to carry out their important work safely – around the world as well as in Gaza. We are calling again on the Israeli government to assure functioning deconfliction measures. Incidents like this cannot be allowed to happen,” she wrote.

US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) confirmed earlier that seven of its humanitarian aid workers were killed in Monday's Israeli strike in Gaza. They were nationals of Australia, Poland, the UK and Palestine, as well as a US-Canada dual citizen.

In related news, Fischer dismissed Israeli terror accusations against the Al Jazeera media network.

“We have already given regular interviews on Al Jazeera and we wouldn't do it if, in our opinion, Al Jazeera was a terrorist channel,” he said.

Fischer was referring to statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. who vowed on Monday that the "terror channel" Al Jazeera would no longer be allowed to broadcast from Israel.

The Qatari-based broadcaster condemned Netanyahu’s incitement claim as a “dangerous ludicrous lie.”

Al Jazeera said late Monday that it holds Netanyahu responsible for the safety of its staff and offices, that it would continue what it described as its bold and professional coverage, and that it “reserves the right to pursue every legal step.”