G7 meeting: Baerbock: More than 200 Germans left Gaza

G7 meeting: Baerbock: More than 200 Germans left Gaza

The wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine determine the meeting of the G7 round of economically strong democracies in Japan. It’s about the Hamas hostages and the humanitarian situation of the civilian population.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has confirmed the departure of more than 200 Germans and their family members from the Gaza Strip. “This gives hope in the midst of the terrible situation in Gaza,” wrote the Green politician on the X platform (formerly Twitter). “Many thanks to our partners in Egypt for their support,” she added. We will continue to work “until every German who wants to leave the country can do so.”

Baerbock arrived in the Japanese capital Tokyo on Tuesday evening (local time) for discussions between the foreign ministers of the G7 states of economically strong democracies. In addition to Germany, the G7 group also includes France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA and Great Britain.

Circles: Great G7 unity for humanitarian aid

After a Middle East debate in the group, German delegation circles said that there was “great agreement” that an expansion of humanitarian aid for the suffering Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip was urgently needed. Baerbock and her Japanese colleague Yoko Kamikawa called for humanitarian ceasefires to supply the population in the area sealed off by Israel.

Japan: Hostages and humanitarian situation are priority

According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Kamikawa stated that “the immediate release of the hostages and improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip are top priorities, and we must call on the countries concerned to establish humanitarian pauses and ensure humanitarian access.” Japan is ready to provide further humanitarian aid to Gaza worth around 65 million dollars (61 million euros). The G7 host had already decided on emergency aid worth ten million US dollars.

G7 warn of wildfire in the region

The German delegation said that the G7 wanted to closely coordinate their efforts to release the hostages kidnapped by Israel to Gaza. There are also German nationals among the hostages. All participants emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense under international humanitarian law. There was consensus that a regional conflagration had to be prevented and that considerations for “the day after” had to be coordinated within the G7 as well as with Israel and the countries in the region.

Concerns about increasing tensions in the West Bank

There is common concern about an increase in tensions in the West Bank, also due to increasing settler violence, it was said from German delegation circles. In the discussion, there was also clearly noticeable concern about the increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the G7 countries. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed his colleagues about the results of his recent Middle East trip.

Baerbock wrote on the X platform: “The pictures from #Gaza don’t let anyone go.” She added: “That’s why I’m pushing for humanitarian ceasefires so much.” She has “held countless discussions and spoken to all partners about how we can finally initiate humanitarian ceasefires both in terms of time and geography.” She added: “It has to be concrete now.” The people of Gaza needed water, bread and medical care. The most seriously injured must finally be treated.

G7 discusses “winter protection shield” for Ukraine

On Wednesday, Baerbock and her colleagues discussed, among other things, the situation in Ukraine. Baerbock had announced that behind closed doors there should also be coordinated support through a “winter protective umbrella”. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba should also join the discussions via video.

Also situation in the Indo-Pacific and China topics

In a second working session, the G7 ministers discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific. In this context, Baerbock had already said before the meeting that since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, we had “learned painfully how aggressive rhetoric or fantasy maps can become dangerous reality.”

She did not explicitly mention China’s threats against the island state of Taiwan, but emphasized: “We must work together today to ensure that no new theaters of war arise whose shock waves would shake us all.”

Source: Stern

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