The German ambassador in Israel, Steffen Seibert, has spoken out against Israel's stop for Gaza aid deliveries. “According to our conviction, we are not able to close the border for international humanitarian aid again,” he told the “Rheinische Post”.
“It cannot be right to have the needy population of Gaza paid for the price for the horrific crimes of Hamas,” said Seibert. He warned against equating the population in the Gaza Stripes with Hamas. For the Islamist organization and its “cynical and sadistic productions” in the hostage clearance, there should be “no spark of understanding”. The Hamas branches remove part of the auxiliary deliveries and benefit from it, according to Seibert. “On the other hand, it has to be taken. But people need support. “
After the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Israel had decided with the Hamas a full stop of the aid deliveries to put pressure on the Hamas. Israel wants the Islamists to agree to an extension of the first phase of the agreement. Hamas rejects this and wants to pass to a second phase of the deal, which also provides for the end of the war.
According to Seibert, it is “in no way” to owe it to the US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, that the agreement between Israel and Hamas has come about. Prepared by negotiators of the US government under ex-President Joe Biden, “the decisive thrust” came through Witkoff, said Seibert. It is important that the ceasefire holds and all hostage gaza could leave as soon as possible.
