As of: February 15, 2024, 6:47 a.m
By: Nail Akkoyun, Bedrettin Bölükbasi
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Baerbock speaks out against Israel's Rafah offensive.
At the same time, dissatisfaction with Netanyahu is growing because of his solo efforts.
The news ticker.
Baerbock
in
Israel
: Foreign Minister warns of “humanitarian catastrophe” in Rafah
Discussion
breaks out: Vatican describes fighting in the Gaza Strip as “slaughter” – Israel protests
Foreign Minister
holds
talks on the war in Israel
: Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visits Jerusalem
The information processed here about the war in Israel and the fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip
comes from local and international media as well as news agencies.
Much of the information cannot be independently verified.
Update from February 15, 6:45 a.m.:
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decisions on his own are causing political tensions within the war cabinet.
The broadcaster Reshet 13
reported that
Netanyahu had decided not to send another delegation to Cairo for talks about a hostage deal.
However, this decision was made without prior consultation with opposition politicians Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who are also part of the war cabinet.
Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar also recommended that the prime minister continue the talks, security sources said.
According to the broadcaster's report, Netanyahu had previously promised that he would now make decisions together and acknowledged that making decisions alone would be a mistake.
Severe criticism also came from the families of the hostages.
They spoke of a “death sentence” for the hostages and accused Netanyahu of “sacrificing” the hostages’ lives.
They also demanded a meeting with both the War Cabinet and military officials.
If this does not happen, they say they want to organize new demonstrations in front of the Kirya base - the meeting place of the War Cabinet in Tel Aviv.
“I insist that Hamas abandon its delusional demands.
If she does this, we will be able to move forward,” Netanyahu said in a statement in response to the criticism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz attend a press conference at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2023.
© ABIR SULTAN/afp
Baerbock in Israel: Foreign Minister warns of “humanitarian catastrophe” in Rafah
Update from February 14th, 9:10 p.m.:
Annalena Baerbock called for a new ceasefire in the Gaza war during her visit to Israel.
This would open a window of opportunity “to free the hostages and to get more humanitarian aid in,” said the Foreign Minister on her fifth visit to Israel since the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7th.
She called on the warring parties to accept a proposal from Qatar and Egypt for a ceasefire and the release of more hostages.
The security of the people of Israel from Hamas' terror is just as important as the survival of the people of Gaza, said the minister.
“Hamas' terror has brought nothing but death and suffering to Gaza too.” If they had compassion for their own people, the Hamas fighters would immediately lay down their weapons, she said.
At the same time, Baerbock reiterated that an Israeli offensive in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip would be “a humanitarian catastrophe.”
People needed “safe places and safe corridors to avoid being further caught in the crossfire.”
More border crossings would have to be opened so that more aid and medicine could be imported.
UN employees must be able to rely on security guarantees.
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Baerbock continues his visit to Israel: Green politician wants to talk about a ceasefire
Update from February 14th, 6:50 p.m.:
Foreign Minister Baerbock will continue her visit to Israel on Thursday.
The Green politician will, among other things, meet with Israel's President Izchak Herzog in the morning.
A meeting with Benny Gantz, minister in the Israeli war cabinet, is also planned.
The talks are also likely to focus on Israel's planned military offensive against the terrorist organization Hamas in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and the humanitarian situation of the civilian population there.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office had announced that the political path towards a new humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza would also be discussed during Baerbock's visit to Israel.
Baerbock also wants to meet relatives of the hostages who are still being held in the Gaza Strip.
Vatican describes fighting in Gaza as “carnage” – Israel protests
Update from February 14th, 5:08 p.m.:
Israel has protested to the Vatican against the description of the fighting in the Gaza Strip as “carnage.”
The Foreign Minister of the Catholic Papal States, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, criticized the Israeli attacks as disproportionate on Tuesday.
“I think we are all outraged by these events, by this carnage.
We have to find other ways to solve the problem of Gaza, the problem of Palestine.”
Update from February 14th, 2:40 p.m
.: After the Israeli air strikes on Lebanon there are first reports of fatalities.
The Lebanese news channel
Al Mayadeen
, which is linked to Hezbollah, reported four deaths in the town of Souaneh.
Israel carries out “widespread airstrikes” in Lebanon
Update from February 14th, 1:30 p.m.:
In response to rocket attacks from Lebanon, the Israeli armed forces carried out “widespread air strikes” against Hezbollah positions on Wednesday afternoon.
This is reported by The Times of Israel
portal
with reference to the Israeli military.
The Israel Defense Forces said it would provide more information shortly.
Update from February 14th, 12:30 p.m.:
The head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has called on Hamas in the Gaza Strip to agree to a hostage deal with Israel as quickly as possible.
This was reported by the Palestinian agency
Wafa News
.
Abbas said that Hamas must sign an agreement to save the Palestinian people “from another catastrophe with threatening consequences” and prevent an offensive against the city of Rafah.
An offensive in Rafah, Abbas said, would lead to “thousands of casualties, pain and displacement among our people.”
After rocket attack from Lebanon: Israel is probably preparing a tough response
Update from February 14th, 11:55 a.m.:
After the heavy rocket attacks against the north of Israel, the Israeli army is preparing
for a “significant response” against Hezbollah, according to the
Ynet news portal.
According to the report, the army will not only attack positions from which the rockets were fired, but also other Hezbollah locations on Lebanese territory.
On Tuesday (February 13), Hezbollah's Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, announced further attacks on Israel and emphasized that the attacks would continue until the "Israeli aggression" in the Gaza Strip ends.
The Lebanese militia repeatedly refers to the 2006 war and is convinced that the Israeli army can be defeated if there is a ground offensive.
Rocket attack on northern Israel: emergency services report one dead
Update from February 14th, 11:13 a.m.:
According to Israeli media reports, a woman was killed in the rocket strike in the city of Safed in northern Israel.
The media also reported that the attack came from neighboring Lebanon, citing the head of the Magen David Adom rescue service, Eli Bin.
The rescue service had previously reported seven injuries as a result of the rocket impact.
The injured were conscious and taken to a hospital.
Israeli media also reported power outages in the Galilee town with around 40,000 inhabitants.
The Israeli military had repeatedly reported rocket alarms in the north of the country.
Israel's army also said it had registered numerous rocket launches from Lebanon.
The launch sites were then attacked.
It was initially unclear who carried out the rocket attacks.
Update from February 14th, 9:14 a.m.:
According to Israeli media, several cities and settlements in northern Israel were fired at with rockets from Lebanon.
So far, seven people have been injured in attacks in the city of Safed, the
Times of Israel
newspaper reported, citing emergency services.
Eight rockets were reportedly fired at the city of around 40,000 residents.
War in Israel: Baerbock visits Jerusalem
First report from February 14th:
Jerusalem - Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is setting off this Wednesday (8 a.m.) on her fifth trip to Israel since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th.
After her arrival in Jerusalem, the Green politician will have a conversation with Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
The Federal Foreign Minister wanted to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the afternoon.
A meeting with opposition leader Jair Lapid was also planned.
There will be a meeting with President Izchak Herzog this Thursday.
The Israeli army's announced ground offensive against the Islamist Hamas in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip as well as the humanitarian situation of the civilian population in Gaza are likely to play an important role in the talks.
Baerbock wants to campaign for a ceasefire in the Israel war in Jerusalem
Baerbock called on Israel on Tuesday (February 13) to provide protective corridors in the war with Gamas so that the civilian population in Rafah could reach safety.
She also again demanded that Israel allow more humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Gaza Strip.
During a visit to Berlin by the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Territories, Riad Malki, she emphasized Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas terror, but at the same time underlined that Israel has a duty to respect international humanitarian law.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office had announced that Baerbock's talks in Israel would also focus on the political path towards a new humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
This is intended to create a time window for the release of further hostages and negotiations for a sustainable ceasefire.
Israel continues to believe in US support in the war with Hamas
Meanwhile, Israel is convinced of the support from the USA on diplomatic issues.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog denied reports that Joe Biden's government was pressuring for a ceasefire.
“The U.S. government has questions about the humanitarian side of the war, but I don't see a U.S. stance aimed at stopping us,” he told Army radio station
GLZ Radio
.
Although the USA would demand a ceasefire in order to free hostages, there are no calls for a final ceasefire.
Despite the different opinions in the USA towards Israel, support for the country's war goals in the Gaza Strip remains the same, explained Herzog.
(bb/dpa)