BERLIN: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday urged greater protection of Palestinian civilians in Rafah, as the Israeli army intensified its operations around the southern city in Gaza despite global concerns and condemnation.
Expressing deep concern over the situation, Baerbock emphasized the urgency of protecting the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Rafah who are left with dwindling safe havens. She stressed that the protection of civilian lives must be the highest priority and voiced concerns over the current lack of visible measures to ensure their safety.
The Israeli army’s recent actions in Rafah, including the takeover of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, have raised alarm, particularly amidst warnings from the United States about the potential humanitarian consequences for the 1.4 million civilians sheltering in the area.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, reported a mass exodus from Rafah, with 600,000 people fleeing intensified military operations. Despite the dire situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disputed claims of a humanitarian catastrophe in the city. He has vowed to escalate the ground operation in Rafah.
Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, reaffirmed its commitment to Israel’s security while urging restraint to prevent civilian casualties.
Since October 7 last year, Israel has launched a relentless military bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 35,233 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
