With regard to Israel’s counteroffensive after the Hamas attack last Saturday, Baerbock said: “Israel has the right – no, the obligation to free its nationals.”
Baerbock landed in Tel Aviv on Friday morning. According to AFP information, she and Cohen visited the southern Israeli town of Netivot, not far from the border with the Gaza Strip. She also had conversations with relatives of German hostages.
She and Cohen then visited a residential building that had been hit by a rocket during the Hamas attacks. The grandfather, father and son were killed in the house.
The Foreign Minister spoke of “unimaginable atrocities” committed by Hamas. “On their murderous spree, the terrorists kidnapped many people with unimaginable violence and did the worst things to them that people can do to each other,” said Baerbock.
On behalf of the federal government and the German people, she assured Israel of “our comprehensive solidarity” and “our full support,” “wherever this is necessary, wherever this should become necessary.”
The radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday with a major attack and kidnapped around 150 people as hostages. According to Israeli authorities, more than 1,300 people have been killed in the fighting so far.
The Israeli army subsequently attacked the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas authorities, more than 1,530 people have been killed so far.