9mo ago

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Israel: cannot stand by as Palestinians risk starvation

www.reuters.com /world/middle-east/germanys-scholz-say-rafah-assault-would-make-regional-peace-very-difficult-2024-03-17/

While many countries have expressed similar concerns, the warning was unusually stark for the German leader, who has continuously underscored Israel's right to defend itself after Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on the country that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

"The more desperate the situation of the people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?" Scholz said at a joint appearance with Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

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Who would have thought that starvation is where Germany draws the line. I mean, is it really that bad compared to getting bombed, or shooted, or burned alive ,or whatever other hell one can imagine has been going on in Gaza these last months?
It only took for them +30K of civilians deaths, but hey, better late than never.
- Germany has been calling on Israel to only target Hamaz since the start of the invasion. However destroying Hamaz requires the use of weapons and civilan casulties were somewhat expected. However Germany has been calling for a ceasefire for months now and has been clear that it does not approve of Israel invading Rafah. The food situation is getting to the point, that is makes 30k civilan deaths look like a joke. Hence Germany is dropping in food and other aid, while working on setting up naval supply of the Gaza Strip. That is after increasing aid for the Gaza strip in recent months on a near regualr bases. The problem being getting it into Gaza.
  The difference this time is that Scholz is going to Israel to talk about what is going on in Gaza and is this time a lot more critical. Lets see.
  
  This is not true. Germany remains reluctant to call for a ceasefire. At least until past week they have demanded "humanitarian fire pauses", so a continuation of Israeli attacks as long as some food is distributed.
  Germany has immediately attacked South Africas charge at the ICJ, discredeting South Africas position minutes after the first hearing ended. So at a time where it was impossible to actually have worked through it.
  The government is asked since at least three months, if Israel isnt going to far. The German government repeatedly rejected that repeating time and time again, that Israel has the right to defend itself and that Hamas is solely responsible for the situation of the people in Gaza.
  What we see now is nothing but a continuation of that same lip service. Because also since months the government is asked, if the strategy of providing further military aid and allow for more weapons exports while just telling Israel to "do more" for the humanitarian situation, is apparently ineffective. This also kept being rejected by the government.
  Finally the German government is complicit in attacking UNRWA based on the claims Israel brought the day of the ICJ preliminary ruling. Despite there being no evidence brought forth by Israel to this day, the German government was eager to be Israels lap-dog immediately cancelling all future funding of UNRWA
  
  Germany has been calling for a ceasefire since December.
  
  This is wrong. Germany is not calling for a ceasefire since december. Germany is calling for "humanitarian fire pauses". When asked by journalists in the governmental press conference about three times a week the goverment keeps speaking about a "humantarian fire pause" "humanitäre Feuerpause" and is explicitly rejecting the word "ceasefire" "Waffenstillstand". The goal of the German government remains set on Israel being able to continueing attacking Gaza militarily.
  Dont let some english analysis tell you otherwise when the primary source, the german government itself is openly rejecting the word ceasefire. Even after the massacre on the 29th February, the German government remains to reject the word ceasefire.
  Government Press conference 01.03.24
  In the press conference on 12.03.2024 the German government again repeated that they believe Israel to be fully abiding by international law. Only in this press conference they are not talking about a "Feuerpause" but "Waffenpause" which could be understood as a ceasefire, but leaves wiggle room continue fighting after the "pause". This is distinctly different from a "Waffenstillstand", where "stillstand" translates more to a full halt.
  
  The link I gave you is an offical government link from the UK government showing a joined declaration of Germany and the UK calling for a 'sustainable ceasefire'. Germany has furthermore signed a common EU declaration calling for "an immediate humanitarian pause that could lead to a sustainable ceasefire"
  The difference is the wording "sustainable" and not "immediate".
  So please actually READ the links I post and not just call me wrong. It really helps...
  
  Also there is a difference between calling for a ceasefire and claiming that its a genocide. SA has all right to be critizied for that.
- Germany is not drawing a line. Germany continues to provide military aid to Israel as well as allow for weapons exports to Israel.
  German shells are being used to kill civillians in Gaza. This is so far the same lip-service to the humanitarian situation that the German government is giving since months, while aiding Israel in its genocide against the Palestinians.
  This probably now comes as the German government sees itself at risk to face consequences at the ICJ. Germany continues to refuse taking any tangible actions to pressure Israel into not commiting further crimes against humanity.
  
  Nicaragua's case is spurious and everybody knows it lmao
  
  As the ICJ accepted the charge and will hold hearings on 8th of april and 9th of april, your notion of "everyone" seems to not include the ICJ, who is the final authority on this case.
  
  This means nothing. There will be absolutely no consequence for Gemany, I'd bet money on that.
  
  That's not the same thing, though.
  
  ICJ is a joke court that has lost all credibility.
- The +30k confirmed death toll in Gaza includes Hamas fighters. In mid-February according to Hamas 6000 of their combatants have been killed, according to Israel 12000, so the true number will be somewhere in the middle.
  Still, a terrible price the civilians of Gaza are paying of course.
  
  No according to Reuters "anonymous source". Not Hamas.
  And the 1200 killed on oct7 includes 373 IDF terrorists.
  
  Thanks for clarifying.
  Hamas does not provide any figures for its military fatalities. The Reuters news agency reported that an official had admitted 6,000 fighters had been killed, but Hamas denied this figure to the BBC.
  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68387864
  I didn't mention the 1.2k killed Israelis, and as such also didn't describe all of them as civilians, like OP did in the case of the Palestinian casualties.
  Unfortunately you disqualified yourself from further discussions by describing all IDF soldiers as terrorists. You might have noticed that I described the Hamas casualties in Gaza as "fighters" to avoid using charged terms, even though they are part of a terrorist group according to the EU and in my opinion could be described as such.
  
  So what you mean is that your source was not credible and you try to semantics out by pretending the IDF isn't a terrorist organisation and israel isn't a terrorist group.

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