Germany’s Scholz demands probe into Gaza hospital strike
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that an explosion at a Gaza hospital must be investigated “very thoroughly,” after competing claims from Israel and Hamas about who blew up the site, killings hundreds, on Tuesday night.
At least 500 people were killed at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza after a massive blast, according to local health authorities linked to the Hamas militant group. Hamas blamed an Israeli air strike, while the Israeli military said a rocket misfired by other Palestinian militants had caused the explosion.
Speaking in Cairo on Wednesday, Scholz cautioned that “we still do not know exactly what happened,” and stressed: “It is important that this incident is investigated very thoroughly.”
Scholz expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, and said: “Yet this incident also makes it clear: Hamas brought terrible suffering to the citizens of Israel with its horrific terrorist attack on October 7, and as a result, much suffering to the people of Gaza.”
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The chancellor was speaking to reporters alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi following a meeting between the two leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the targeting of the hospital and stressed that “all the light must be shed on the circumstances.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: “Italy expresses its deep condolences for the victims and its closeness to the families and the injured.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the events at the hospital as a “senseless tragedy,” that caused horrifying and distressing scenes and turned the hospital into a “hell of fire.”
“There is no excuse for hitting a hospital full of civilians,” and “those responsible must be held accountable,” she told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
During his statement Wednesday morning, Scholz said that he and the Egyptian president “are working to ensure that there is humanitarian access to Gaza as quickly as possible.
“The people there need water, food and medicine,” Scholz said. “I can assure you at this point: We will not leave the people alone. The German government will continue its humanitarian commitment to Gaza in order to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population.”
The chancellor also reiterated a warning not to further escalate the conflict, echoing remarks he made on Tuesday: “Once again, I expressly warn Hezbollah and Iran not to intervene in this conflict. They would be committing a grave mistake.”
Elena Giordano contributed reporting and Eddy Wax contributed reporting from Strasbourg.