Gaza war: Netanyahu agrees with Scholz: eliminate Hamas

After a conversation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained that he had agreed with the German guest that “Hamas must be eliminated.” There will be no peace as long as the Islamist terrorist organization remains in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said at a joint press conference with Scholz in Jerusalem. “We have no future if Hamas, which is determined to commit genocide against us, remains intact.”

Netanyahu says the civilian population will be brought to safety ahead of a planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Israel is also making every effort to deliver aid to the people of the Gaza Strip “by land, sea and air.”

Scholz openly questions Israel’s actions in Gaza

Scholz openly questioned Israel’s military approach in the Gaza war in view of the high number of victims. At a joint press event, he emphasized that Israel has the right to defend itself against the terror of the Islamist Hamas. At the same time, on Sunday in Jerusalem, he urged Netanyahu to rethink his strategy in the Gaza Strip.

In the five months of the war, the number of civilian casualties was extremely high, “many would say too high,” said Scholz. “No matter how important the goal may be, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve this goal?” asked Scholz.

Terrorism cannot be defeated by military means alone, he continued. “We need a solution to this conflict that ensures sustainable and lasting security.” What is needed is a positive perspective for both peoples, for Israelis and Palestinians, “a perspective for a future in which the Palestinians can take care of their own affairs responsibly and govern themselves.”

Scholz calls for a ceasefire in Aqaba

Scholz arrived in Israel on the same day for a visit, the second since the Gaza war began on October 7th. He had previously met Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the Jordanian seaside resort of Aqaba.

There the Chancellor urgently called for a ceasefire. “It is very clear that we must now do everything we can to ensure that the situation does not become even worse than it is,” said the SPD politician, referring to a possible Israeli ground offensive in the south of the Gaza Strip. “I believe that a large number of victims in such an offensive would make any peaceful development very difficult. Many in Israel also know that.”

Jordan’s King Abdullah II called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza war. After his meeting with Scholz, the Jordanian royal court reported that the two discussed urgent measures that the international community must take to achieve this goal.

According to the information, King Abdullah II also campaigned for the civilian population in the contested Palestinian territory to be better protected. The king also warned against stopping payments to the UN refugee agency UNRWA. This also has “dangerous effects” on Jordan.

Also meetings with relatives of hostages

Scholz also wants to speak to President Izchak Herzog, Minister Benny Gantz and relatives of hostages in Israel. The Gaza war was triggered by a terrorist attack on Israel by the Palestinian Hamas on October 7th. Israel wants to destroy Hamas and free the hostages from the control of the terrorist organization. It is believed that around 100 of them are still alive.

Scholz traveled to Israel for the first time ten days after the Hamas attack to assure the country of German solidarity. “The security of Israel and its citizens is German reasons of state,” he said at the time. “Our responsibility arising from the Holocaust makes it our task to stand up for the existence and security of the State of Israel.”

German reason of state: Scholz holds back from criticism

In contrast to other allies, Scholz has remained very reserved in criticizing the Israeli military operation against Hamas, in which, according to the Hamas health authority, tens of thousands of people were killed. This is also due to German reasons of state. This is being viewed critically in the Arab world. However, Scholz’s warnings have become clearer step by step.

The Israeli Prime Minister approved the controversial ground offensive in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip on Friday. According to estimates, 1.5 million Palestinians are currently seeking protection from the fighting in the other areas of the Gaza Strip in very small spaces and under miserable conditions. Aid organizations warn of many more civilian deaths.

According to local media reports, Israel’s war cabinet wants to meet with Netanyahu on Sunday to decide whether to send a delegation to Qatar. There, the recently stalled talks on a ceasefire are set to continue in the capital Doha after Hamas presented a new proposal to the mediators.

Germany takes part in airlift for Gaza

While Scholz met the Jordanian king in Aqaba, the Air Force was preparing further aid flights almost 400 kilometers away at the “King Abdullah Airbase” near the capital Amman. Germany is thus participating in the Jordanian initiative for an airlift to the Gaza Strip. After the first delivery of four tons of food – including rice and flour – was parachuted from a transport plane over the north of the Palestinian territory on Saturday, the second relief flight took place on Sunday. Several other countries also had transport aircraft in use.

Again protests in Israel against Netanyahu government

A day before the Chancellor’s visit, thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities for the release of hostages held by Hamas and against the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu. In some places, people set small fires, set off smoke bombs and chanted for the hostages to be released. The police used water cannons to break up individual gatherings. Relatives of the hostages called for a new deal for their release and called on the government to act quickly. “They don’t have any more time, we don’t have any more time. Do something now, we need you!” said a relative at a rally.