ALBAWABA - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is set to visit Israel for the fifth time to take part in the latest Gaza ceasefire talks.
Ahead of her trip to Israel, Baerbock stated that she is concerned about Tel Aviv’s brut military offensive in the Palestinian city of Rafah.
"I’m particularly concerned about the announcement of a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah by the Israeli government," Baerbock told reporters after a meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki in Berlin.
The minister laid the blame for the suffering of civilians in Gaza on Hamas, saying before her departure: "If Hamas terrorists had even an ounce of compassion for the Palestinian women, men, and children suffering from the fighting in Gaza, they would immediately lay down their weapons. Instead, the terrorists continue to entrench themselves behind the civilian population".
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the death toll from Israeli brutal pounding on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has soared to 28,576 people, with more than 68,291 injuries.
Since then, approximately 85% of Gazans have been displaced, all of whom are suffering from severe food insecurity, and the healthcare system has collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of people lack shelter, and aid trucks are entering the area at a lower rate than before the conflict began.
