News blog about the war in the Middle East
Baerbock speaks of a “medical disaster” in the Gaza Strip
From dpa, rtr, afp, t-online, bm, te, sic, fho, lec, mam, csi
Updated on January 9, 2024 – 7:24 p.m. Reading time: 32 min.
Annalena Baerbock (Alliance90/The Greens): The Foreign Minister visits the border crossing to the Gaza Strip in Rafah and speaks with UN representatives. (Source: Michael Kappeler/dpa)
The World Health Organization warns that hospitals in southern Gaza are collapsing. A Hezbollah commander appears to have been killed in an Israeli attack in Lebanon. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel on October 7 and carried out massacres. Since then, Israel has been attacking targets in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. This news blog informs you about the current developments:
British Foreign Minister: Concern about Israel’s violation of the law in Gaza
6:22 p.m.: British Foreign Secretary David Cameron is concerned about Israel’s possible violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza war. “If you ask me whether I am concerned that Israel may have broken international law because a particular building was bombed, yes of course I am concerned,” said the Conservative politician in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament in London. However, Cameron emphasizes that he cannot remember a legal assessment by his ministry that expressly found a violation of the law.
Israel must do more to allow aid deliveries into Gaza, says Cameron at the committee meeting. London is also committed to getting the water turned on again in the north of the Gaza Strip. However, Cameron does not want to answer whether these are violations of international law.
Regarding the Israeli army’s military advances, Cameron says Hamas has lost well over half of its rocket-firing capabilities and capacity. The hostages in Gaza who have been abducted from Israel since October 7th include two British citizens whose release London is campaigning for, Cameron continued.
Baerbock speaks of a “medical disaster” in the Gaza Strip
6:11 p.m.: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed shock at the humanitarian plight of the people in the Gaza Strip and urgently called for better access to medical and humanitarian aid. “There must now be an urgent response to this medical disaster,” said the Green Party politician in the Egyptian city of Al-Arisch after a visit to the border with the Gaza Strip. “The hospitals that still exist in Gaza must be able to function,” adds the Federal Foreign Minister.
After three months of war, 13 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are still in operation. Palestinians who cannot be treated there should be able to be taken to places like the hospital in Al-Arisch, says Baerbock. According to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, 23,000 people have been killed and almost 59,000 injured so far. The hospitals that are still working are completely overwhelmed by the large number of war victims.
Baerbock hands over aid for Palestinians to Egypt
1:04 p.m.: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hands over almost ten tons of relief supplies to the Egyptian Red Crescent for the suffering Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. Coming from Cairo, the Green Party politician landed in an A400M air force transporter in the capital of the Egyptian North Sinai governorate on the Mediterranean, Al-Arish. She then wanted to visit the border town of Rafah, about 50 kilometers to the west, between Egypt and the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The relief supplies, transported on almost 40 pallets, were financed by the Federal Foreign Office and loaded into Wunstorf in Lower Saxony by the Bundeswehr. These are sleeping mats, blankets, children’s sleeping bags and camp beds for people in Gaza who live in makeshift accommodation. The goods are unloaded by the Red Crescent and transported to the coastal strip by the UN Organization for Migration (IOM). The distribution to the people there is planned by a Norwegian refugee organization.
WHO: Health system in southern Gaza is collapsing
11.45 a.m.: A representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) expresses concern about the possible collapse of hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip. The health system is collapsing very quickly, says Sean Casey, WHO coordinator of emergency medical teams in Gaza. The battle for the city of Khan Yunis has intensified. Therefore, many medical staff and patients would flee to save their lives.
