Berlin (dpa) – In the wake of the terror attacks on Israel by the Islamist Hamas organisation, Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister is travelling to Israel. “For us, solidarity is of paramount importance,” Baerbock said. She stressed that Israel’s security was the prime motivation for Germany’s actions as a state and added, “nothing comes before that”.
The minister also hopes to draw on international diplomacy in this time of crisis to prevent the conflict spreading across the region. For this, she is prioritising working with Israel’s partners and neighbours. Before departing on her trip in solidarity with Israel, Baerbock warned that “Hamas terrorism brings with it the risk of destabilising the whole region.” Israel has been in shock since the attack by Hamas, which killed hundreds. “Now we must prevent other actors in the region pouring oil on the fire,” said Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister,
whose plans while in Israel include meeting her counterpart Eli Cohen. A spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office said that Baerbock would use the talks to focus on ways of supporting Israel. She would also discuss the fate of the people taken hostage by Hamas.
Baerbock herself said that Hamas brought only suffering and death to people, both in Israel and in Gaza. “It is the perfidious strategy of Hamas to abuse the civilian population by employing them as human shields,” she said. “We cannot allow the script of terrorism to take hold.”Baerbock also stressed that civilians need safe spaces where they can find protection and access the bare necessities.
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