Germany thanks Egypt for mediating Gaza ceasefire

CAIRO – 15 May 2023: Germany welcomed the ceasefire mediated by Egypt in Gaza, praising the Egyptian successful efforts to end the violence, the German Foreign Office said on Sunday.

Germany called for both parties to adhere to the ceasefire, affirming the need for permanent peace between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

“The goal must remain a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which enables all to live in safety and dignity,” the German Foreign Office stated.

“We also grieve for the civilians who were killed, and our thoughts are with the many wounded,” the foreign office added.

“Effective protection of the civilian population, especially from rocket fire, is of paramount importance,” the foreign office said, affirming also the importance of immediate access to humanitarian aid and essential commodities in Gaza.

The Palestinian and Israeli sides agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday 10pm, after five days of Israeli aggression killed around 33 Palestinians, including children, according to official data.

The Israeli airstrikes against the strip also damaged hundreds of buildings and injured many Palestinian people before the ceasefire was brokered.

Also, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets against Israel in retaliation.

Many countries and international partners have welcomed the Saturday ceasefire, including the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Switzerland, Britain and Qatar.

Egypt also brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian factions in May 2021, ending 11 days of fighting that killed more than 250 Palestinian people.