Israel Promises More Aid Deliveries for Gaza During Vienna Visit
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar promised an improvement in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip during his visit to Vienna on Thursday. "There will be more trucks, more access, and more routes for humanitarian operations," Saar said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) and her German counterpart, Johann Wadephul. The three foreign ministers plan to meet regularly in the so-called "Vienna Trialogue."
The next trilateral meeting is to be held in Berlin. An agreement between the EU and Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and provide more aid was also announced earlier on Thursday by the EU's foreign affairs representative, Kaja Kallas.
Efforts for a Ceasefire
Both Meinl-Reisinger and Wadephul had recently visited Israel. At the press conference, they emphasized that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip must be improved, hostages must be released, and an urgent ceasefire is needed. "After 642 days of war, an agreement is overdue here," Meinl-Reisinger stated. A temporary ceasefire is "achievable," Saar expressed confidently. Once this is achieved, Israel will negotiate a permanent ceasefire, Saar emphasized. Wadephul also expressed confidence that the ceasefire negotiations will be successful. He reported having discussed this with his US counterpart Marco Rubio.
Saar called on the EU to do more against the pro-Iranian Houthi militia in Yemen, which is sinking ships in the Red Sea and kidnapping survivors. Wadephul, in turn, urged Iran to use its influence on the Houthi militia in Yemen to stop attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. "We strongly condemn these attacks and expect Iran to influence the Houthis to stop these provocations," said the German Foreign Minister.
"Germany and Austria stand firmly by Israel's side against the rocket attacks from Iran, against terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis," Wadephul emphasized. Meinl-Reisinger expressed a similar sentiment. "Austria, like Germany, stands firmly by Israel's side, but humanity and international legal obligations are non-negotiable for us," she said.
Both foreign ministers also emphasized that the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas should have no future. Like Meinl-Reisinger, Wadephul opposed a suspension of the association agreement between Israel and the EU, which is being discussed at the EU level. "Diplomacy and political disputes are important and also lead to movement," explained the Austrian head of diplomacy. Article 2 of the agreement names international humanitarian law as the basis for cooperation.
Reports on Emigration Camps
Currently, efforts are underway for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of more hostages under the mediation of Qatar, the USA, and Egypt. According to insiders, Israel is willing to agree. However, the condition is the disarmament of Hamas. Hamas, for its part, has recently agreed, according to its own statements, to the release of ten Israeli hostages. However, an unresolved issue is the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces during the ceasefire, media reported. Recently, Israeli plans for the construction of a camp for 600,000 Palestinians displaced within the Gaza Strip in the south of the coastal area have also caused a stir. According to media reports, it is to be established during the desired 60-day ceasefire and managed by international partners. The camp is also intended to implement an "emigration plan" for the Palestinians.
When asked about this, Saar denied efforts to resettle Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. "There is no such thing," said the Israeli foreign minister. Any migration from the Gaza Strip must be based on two conditions: free will and countries willing to accept the people. Meinl-Reisinger specifically stated: "From an Austrian perspective, Gaza must remain Palestinian." Without a perspective for the Palestinian people, there can be no sustainable peace. "Therefore, the long-term goal must be a two-state solution," said the foreign minister.
The trigger for the Gaza war was the terrorist attack by the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. Around 1,200 people were killed, and more than 250 were abducted as hostages to the Gaza Strip. About 50 hostages are still in the hands of their kidnappers, and according to Israeli intelligence, at least 20 of them are believed to be alive. Since October 7, more than 57,500 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, according to the health authority controlled by Hamas.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.