Middle East: Pistorius in Israel: release of the hostages in focus

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has assured his Israeli counterpart Joav Galant of Germany’s support in the fight against the Islamist Hamas. The most urgent task is to achieve the release of those abducted, said the SPD politician in Tel Aviv at a meeting with Galant. Germany also wants to support this wherever possible and is ready to support the Israeli armed forces with material.

The federal government and Germany stand on Israel’s side, said Pistorius. Galant made it clear that Israel is aware of its enormous responsibility and is striving to avoid civilian casualties, as required by international law.

“This has nothing to do with a war that Hamas started here. This is a terrorist attack,” said Pistorius. “This inhumane brutality has deeply shocked us in Germany.”

Gallant: “Never again” is not just a slogan

Galant announced decisive action. “I can say to all of you: ‘Never again’ is not a slogan for the Israeli military in Israel, it is a commitment,” he said at the meeting with Pistorius. Israel was “brutally attacked by IS – Hamas – in Gaza.” “We will do everything we can to destroy Hamas and we will do everything possible to bring our hostages home.”

Terrorists carried out a massacre of civilians in Israel on October 7th on behalf of Hamas. According to estimates, around 2,500 Palestinians from the coastal strip crossed the border. It was the worst bloodbath in Israeli history. More than 1,400 people in Israel died during the attack and in the days that followed. Militants kidnapped more than 200 people in the Mediterranean region. Since then, Israel’s military has been attacking targets in the densely populated coastal strip.

“My thoughts are with the hostages and their relatives, who must be dying of worry at this stage,” said Pistorius. He is very determined, together with the entire federal government, to free these people from their captivity and torment. After meeting Galant, he also met with families of the abductees.

Bundeswehr supports with soldiers and material

After the Hamas attack, the Bundeswehr had already moved soldiers and material to the region in the past few days in order to be prepared for operations. The Ministry of Defense has informed specialist politicians in the Bundestag about the details. Soldiers from the Special Forces Command (KSK) in Jordan and Navy Special Forces (SM) with combat swimmers in Cyprus are now in waiting position. One possible operational scenario is a military-protected evacuation of German citizens from countries in the region.

Before visiting Israel, Pistorius found out about the work and security situation of around 140 men and women from the Bundeswehr in Lebanon who are part of the UN mission Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). The soldiers are tasked with preventing weapons smuggling and gathering information about the situation.

The corvette “Oldenburg” is also traveling in the sea area off the Lebanese coast. She was in the port of Beirut on Thursday with her crew of more than 60 soldiers. For Pistorius, the talks on the naval ship were the first stop on his Middle East visit. There were no direct talks with the Lebanese government.

Worry about further escalation

After the major attack by Hamas, Pistorius warned of a further escalation in the Middle East conflict. The situation could become even more dramatic, he said on board the corvette. It is therefore good that the ship is also ready for possible evacuations of German citizens.

There are international fears that the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah could increasingly intervene in the conflict and force a second, northern front on Israel. Hezbollah has close ties to Hamas.

The UN mission Unifil monitors the border area between Israel and Lebanon, where there have also been clashes in recent days. The area surrounding the Unifil headquarters was also hit by a rocket. There were no injuries.

The Bundeswehr is currently providing around 140 men and women for Unifil operations, including around 30 soldiers in Cyprus. There are around 40 German soldiers at the Unifil headquarters in Nakura, southern Lebanon. “Everyone who saw and experienced it agrees that it was a stray rocket, a misguided rocket,” said Pistorius in Beirut about the rocket hit. However, the men and women currently have to go into the bunker more often when the alarm goes off. “Unfortunately, that’s part of what’s happening and part of the mission.”