Berlin (dpa) – Following the attack on Israel by the Palestinian terror organisation Hamas, German Chancellor Scholz has promised Israel Germany’s solidarity. “We are deeply shocked by the rocket fire from Gaza and the escalating violence. Germany condemns these attacks and stands by Israel,” he stated on Saturday. As a visible sign of the unwavering German-Israeli friendship, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned of an escalation in the region following the major attack by Hamas. “This day marks a turning point, an unprecedented act of escalation by Hamas”, Baerbock said. “These terrorist attacks now pose the incalculable risk of provoking a major regional escalation.” The foreign minister said that she could only “warn in the strongest possible terms against others joining in this terror”. The hostage-taking by Hamas was “abhorrent and a violation of international humanitarian law”. The Hamas terror must cease immediately. She also stressed that the German government stood in solidarity by Israel’s side.
Baerbock spoke on the phone with the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Maliki, her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen and the Egyptian Foreign Minister Samih Schukri, among others. Late in the evening she also took part in a conference call with the foreign ministers of the USA, the UK and Italy and with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.
Fighters of the Palestinian terror organisation Hamas had launched a widescale attack on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of people and kidnapping or taking many Israelis hostage. Israel responded by carrying out air strikes on Hamas facilities.