Israel and Hamas at war | London and Berlin call for “lasting” ceasefire in Gaza

(London) The head of British diplomacy David Cameron and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock believe that there is “an urgent need” for a “lasting ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, but are opposed to one. “general and immediate ceasefire”.

“We must do everything we can to pave the way for a lasting ceasefire, leading to lasting peace. The sooner the better, the need is urgent,” write the two ministers in a joint article published in the Sunday Times. “Too many civilians have been killed,” they lament.

They nevertheless add “do not think that calling now for a general and immediate ceasefire, hoping that it will become permanent in one way or another, is the way to follow.”

This would “ignore why Israel is forced to defend itself: Hamas has attacked Israel in a barbaric manner and continues to fire rockets to kill Israeli citizens every day.” Hamas must lay down its arms,” they believe.

A non-binding resolution was adopted Tuesday at the UN general assembly, calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza. The United Kingdom abstained.

In recent days, President Joe Biden’s administration has put pressure on Israeli authorities to move to a less intensive phase of their offensive in order to better protect civilians.

The war between Israel and Hamas, which entered its 71st on Saturday^e day, was triggered by a bloody and unprecedented attack perpetrated by the Palestinian Islamist movement on October 7 on Israeli soil from the Gaza Strip.

According to Israel, 1,139 people, mostly civilians, were killed in this attack and around 250 kidnapped and taken to Gaza. About 129 hostages remain in Gaza, including bodies, according to the army.

Israel has vowed to “annihilate” Hamas, shelling Palestinian territory, besieging it and carrying out, since October 27, a vast ground operation.

The Hamas Health Ministry reported Friday that 18,800 people had died in Israeli bombings, mostly women, children and adolescents.