Germany's Scholz opposes immediate Gaza ceasefire amid global pressure

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Nov 2023 23:30

Scholz expressed his opposition to immediate or prolonged ceasefires, stating it would essentially provide Hamas the opportunity to rearm and procure new missiles if "Israel" were to comply.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wears a kippa as he arrives to attend the commemoration ceremony for the 85th anniversary of the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) will take place in Berlin, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Berlin (John MacDougall, Pool via AP)

On Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced his opposition to an "immediate" ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, amidst increasing global pleas to end the war on Gaza and Israeli massacres.

"Israel" has continuously bombarded the densely populated Palestinian territory under the pretense of targeting Hamas fighters, leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis.

"I don't think the calls for an immediate ceasefire or long pause -- which would amount to the same thing -- are right," Scholz said in a debate organized by the German regional daily Heilbronner Stimme.

"That would mean ultimately that Israel leaves Hamas the possibility of recovering and obtaining new missiles," he added, calling instead for "humanitarian pauses".

Scholz's position contradicts the views held by numerous Arab nations, as well as those expressed by France's Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is scheduled to meet with the German leader in Berlin in the coming week.

On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip "have no reason or legitimacy and must be stopped".

"De facto - today, civilians are bombed - de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy," Macron told the BBC, adding there was "no justification" for the bombing.

While still saying "Israel" has the "right to defend itself," he still called for an end to the relentless bombing.

"We do urge Israel to stop," he said.

Erdogan, on the other hand, has criticized the Israeli regime for its war crimes and said that any ally of "Israel" will make them complicit in the killing of women and children in Gaza.

"Israel, we will proclaim you as a war criminal to the world," Erdogan said. "We are making our preparations, and we will declare Israel to the world as a war criminal."

Following these statements, "Israel" announced on October 29 that it was withdrawing its diplomats from Turkey to conduct a review of their relations.

So far, the Israeli aggression has resulted in the martyrdom of over 11,000 individuals in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the health ministry in Gaza.