UPDATE - Germany, UK stress urgent need for humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza

Diplomatic talks should dwell on stopping the fighting now, British Foreign Secretary Cameron tells journalists in Berlin- It is responsibility of Israel to ensure people of Gaza receive much-needed humanitarian aid, Baerbock says

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES IN DECK, BODY

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - Germany and the UK emphasized on Thursday the urgent need for a humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip as the humanitarian situation in the enclave continues to worsen.

“We both sent an urgent appeal today – on behalf of the United Kingdom and Germany – when we say we urgently need to agree on a humanitarian cease-fire. We need a breakthrough in the negotiations,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at a joint press conference with her British counterpart David Cameron in Berlin.

Baerbock's remarks were echoed by Cameron, who said diplomatic talks should focus on how to stop the fighting.

“We want this pause to happen now with this hostage deal that is now on the table and Hamas should accept it,” he added.

Israel has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion, which claimed about 1,200 lives and took about 250 hostages. A week-long cease-fire in November led to release of some of the hostages.

The military campaign and siege have also led to mass displacement, destruction and conditions for a famine.

Both the ministers called on Israel to open up more border crossings to allow much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"The Israeli government has to urgently open more crossings into Gaza for humanitarian aid deliveries and it has to ensure that the food gets where it is needed. It is their responsibility,” Baerbock said.

“We really need to see more openings in terms of crossings to the border, we need to see more types of aid get in. We need to see the number of trucks go up. We need to see more UN staff with visas inside Gaza so they can move the aid around,” Cameron said.

“I think the Israelis have to really understand that this is on the brink of being a desperate situation in terms of disease and famine, and so the time for doing more is now, but we also need to make sure that we say to Hamas that they should release these hostages,” he added.

Kaynak:

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