Germany halts military equipment deliveries to Israel and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced yesterday, Friday, that his government will suspend all military equipment exports to Israel until further notice, in response to Tel Aviv's decision to expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Merz confirmed in an official statement that Germany prioritizes the release of Israeli prisoners and negotiating a ceasefire, expressing deep concern over the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
In a parallel development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced in a statement on Friday morning that the "Cabinet" approved a plan to take control of the city of Gaza, clarifying that the Israeli army is preparing to seize the city while distributing humanitarian aid to civilians in areas far from the fighting.
The Israeli security council also approved 5 principles to end the war, which include:
Disarming Hamas, returning all prisoners alive or dead, disarming the Gaza Strip, imposing Israeli security control over the sector, and establishing an alternative civilian administration not affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
The statement indicated that the majority of ministers rejected an alternative plan they deemed ineffective in defeating Hamas or freeing the prisoners, without revealing additional details.
This decision comes in the context of ongoing Israeli military escalation that has lasted for 22 months, following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
At the same time, families of hostages held in Gaza fear for the lives of their loved ones due to the military escalation, with some protesting outside the security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
Former senior Israeli security officials warned that the plan could lead to a military deadlock with limited outcomes.
It is worth noting that the Israeli army currently controls about 75% of the Gaza Strip, conducting ground operations from fixed positions within the sector and along the border, in addition to ongoing aerial and artillery bombardments.
The fighting has caused widespread destruction and displaced millions of the approximately 2.4 million residents, amid warnings from the United Nations and humanitarian organizations about the increasing risk of famine.
It is noted that Israel occupied the Gaza Strip in 1967, then unilaterally withdrew from it in 2005, dismantling 21 settlements that had been established there.
