The medical peace organization and German affiliate of IPPNW is calling on the German government to sharply reject the US plans to “take possession” of the Gaza Strip and the deployment of US troops as a serious breach of international law. The German government should demand an immediate halt to military attacks in the West Bank from the Israeli government and should no longer supply arms to the Israeli government.

“The escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank is jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. We condemn any violation of the rights of Palestinians under international law, be it through Israeli settlement policy, annexation of land or expulsion. Donald Trump's plans are diametrically opposed to a solution to the Middle East conflict,” explains IPPNW Germany Chairwoman Dr. Angelika Claußen.

Egypt and Jordan, where the 2.3 million Palestinians are to be “resettled” according to the US President's plans, as well as other Arab states have already rejected the idea. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League have also spoken out against the so-called “resettlement” of Palestinians. Saudi Arabia has made the establishment of an independent Palestinian state a
prerequisite for establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

In January, the UN estimated that 50 million tons of rubble would have to be removed from the Gaza Strip. Removal could take 21 years and cost up to 1.2 billion dollars. According to a UN Humanitarian Situation
Report, access to healthcare is also deteriorating in the West Bank. 68 percent of health centers could only work to a limited extent. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the state hospital in Jenin was
surrounded by Israeli forces and the main access road to the hospital was destroyed. As a result, food and medical supplies could not be delivered. Patients, medical staff and accompanying persons were trapped
in the hospital and were unable to leave.

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