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DW
an hour ago
- Politics
- DW
Middle East updates: German air force begins Gaza aid drops – DW – 08/01/2025
The aid drops began as German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited the occupied West Bank. Meanwhile, US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is in the Gaza Strip. DW has the German military, the Bundeswehr, has begun airdropping humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the Defense Ministry in Berlin confirmed on Friday. German air force transport planes have reportedly dropped 34 pallets with a combined total of 14 tons of food and medical supplies over the besieged Palestinian enclave. Amid mounting international criticism of its conduct in Gaza, which has resulted in increasing reports of mass starvation, Israel has been allowing aid to enter the territory via land and air since Sunday. Regional neighbors Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have been leading the airdrops, with Germany also contributing two aircraft operating from a Jordanian base. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) nevertheless cautioned that airdrops only have a limited effect. "Food and medication is lacking in Gaza," he said. "For many people, including for many children, it's about sheer survival." Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), who is currently visiting the region, also warned that airdrops cannot replace land deliveries when it comes to ensuring that vital aid reaches those who need it most. "That's why we're calling urgently on the Israeli government to allow secure access [to Gaza] for the United Nations and international aid organizations and to facilitate secure distribution [of aid]," he said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to the Gaza Strip on Friday, where he will observe the humanitarian situation on the ground and inspect aid deliveries alongside the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. "The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Witkoff's visit to the region comes after President Trump called the situation in Gaza "a terrible thing" in response to remarks from far-right Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene who on Tuesday called Israel's offensive in the Palestinian enclave a "genocide." "Oh, it's terrible what occurring there," Trump told reporters. "People are very hungry." Shortly after Witkoff's arrival in Jerusalem on Thursday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!" Hamas militants took 251 Israelis hostage during their attack on October 7, 2023, and the militant group is still believed to be holding around 50 of them. Only around 20 are still believed to be alive. Germany will contribute a further €5 million ($5.7m) to the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP) to support the operation of bakeries and soup kitchens in the Gaza Strip. The announcement was made by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) while visiting UN aid facilities in Jerusalem on Thursday, where he also announced the opening of a new field hospital in Gaza. The individual, pre-built parts of the field hospital reportedly arrived in Israel in April. The facility is expected to be erected in the north of the Gaza Strip, where it will offer basic healthcare services. According to the AFP news agency, this is the first German humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories since the start of the current conflict. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) will visit the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday where he will hold talks with Palestinian leader Mahmous Abbas. Increasing Israeli settler violence against Palestinians is expected to be high on the agenda in Ramallah, as is a non-binding resolution passed by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, last week supporting the total annexation of the West Bank by Israel. After meeting with leading Israeli politicians in Jerusalem on Thursday, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Wadephul warned that "Israel runs the risk of becoming increasingly isolated internationally" over what he called a "humanitarian disaster" in Gaza which is "beyond imagination." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Hello and welcome to our coverage of developments in the continuing conflict in the Middle East on Friday, August 1. After warning Israel on Thursday to do more to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip or face increasing international isolation, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will today travel to the occupied West Bank for talks with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. Elsewhere, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is also in the region and is set to visit Gaza alongside the US ambassor to Israel, Mike Huckabee. Meanwhile, there are renewed reports of Palestinians being shot and killed by Israeli troops while trying to access food and aid. And if you missed anything, you can catch up on yesterday's developments here.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Germany to deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine in deal with US
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Soldiers stand during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to a military training area to find out about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, at an undisclosed location, in Germany, June 11, 2024. Jens Buttner/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo BERLIN - Germany said on Friday that it will deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the U.S. that Berlin will be first in line to receive the latest systems in return. Thanks to the U.S. commitment, "Germany can initially support Ukraine with launchers and then with additional Patriot system components," said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in a statement. The Bundeswehr army will initially deliver additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days, followed by additional system components to be handed over in two or three months. In return, Berlin will receive new Patriot systems, for which it is providing the funding, from the United States at an accelerated pace. Ukraine's needs for air defence have grown more urgent as Russia has intensified its nationwide aerial attacks this summer, and the Patriot systems have proven effective at destroying Russian ballistic missiles. Germany has already delivered three of its Patriot systems to Ukraine and said on Friday that sending the additional systems will not affect its contribution to the NATO defence alliance. REUTERS
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Germany's armed forces to introduce new camouflage uniforms by 2029
Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, are set to undergo a transformation in the coming years with the introduction of a new camouflage pattern intended to replace the current uniform. According to Hartpunkt defence news portal, all soldiers are to be equipped with the new "multi-camouflage print" by no later than 2029. The German Ministry of Defence confirmed to military publication Augen geradeaus that it is currently working on supplying troops with updated combat gear, in line with the newly designated personnel size of 460,000 troops. 'To achieve this, we'll begin urgent procurement to quickly boost our supply of combat clothing. At the same time, we'll set up long-term contracts to ensure a steady supply and replacement of this gear, including plans for a gradual switch to the new multi-camouflage pattern. Since the process is still ongoing, we can't yet give a clear timeline or cost estimate,' the ministry stated. The new camouflage design had previously been reserved exclusively for special forces units. The decision to roll it out across the entire Bundeswehr reportedly followed an extended internal debate. For years, the ministry had resisted a full-scale introduction of the pattern, but now a concrete plan is in place. The phased transition is set to begin in 2026, with full implementation targeted for 2028 and 2029. The change was brought on for tactical and security reasons. A study conducted by the Wehrwissenschaftliches Institut für Werk- und Betriebsstoffe, the research body of the German army, found that the multi-camouflage pattern provides better concealment across a range of operational environments, particularly in urban settings. Another reason for the shift is to prevent special forces from standing out during joint operations. Until now, only elite units such as the Army's Special Forces Command (KSK) and the Navy's Special Forces Command (KSM) wore the pattern, which made them easier to identify in the field. The pattern is considered highly adaptable, especially given climate-related changes to natural landscapes and recent battlefield experience, including Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Germany to Deliver Two Patriot Systems to Ukraine in Deal with US
Germany said on Friday that it will deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the US that Berlin will be first in line to receive the latest systems in return. Thanks to the US commitment, "Germany can initially support Ukraine with launchers and then with additional Patriot system components," said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in a statement. The Bundeswehr army will initially deliver additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days, followed by additional system components to be handed over in two or three months, Reuters said. In return, Berlin will receive new Patriot systems, for which it is providing the funding, from the United States at an accelerated pace. Ukraine's needs for air defense have grown more urgent as Russia has intensified its nationwide aerial attacks this summer, and the Patriot systems have proven effective at destroying Russian ballistic missiles. Germany has already delivered three of its Patriot systems to Ukraine and said on Friday that sending the additional systems will not affect its contribution to the NATO defense alliance.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Germany to deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine in deal with US
Germany said on Friday that it will deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the US that Berlin will be first in line to receive the latest systems in return. Thanks to the US commitment, 'Germany can initially support Ukraine with launchers and then with additional Patriot system components,' said German defence minister Boris Pistorius in a statement. The Bundeswehr army will initially deliver additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days, followed by additional system components to be handed over in two or three months. In return, Berlin will receive new Patriot systems, for which it is providing the funding, from the United States at an accelerated pace. READ MORE Ukraine's needs for air defence have grown more urgent as Russia has intensified its nationwide aerial attacks this summer, and the Patriot systems have proven effective at destroying Russian ballistic missiles. Russia used over 3,800 drones and nearly 260 missiles for its attacks on Ukraine in July, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday. 'We value the fact that President Trump, European leaders and other partners clearly see what is happening and condemn Russia,' Zelenskiy wrote on X, adding that Russian attacks can only be stopped through joint efforts by the US, Europe and other global actors. Germany has already delivered three of its Patriot systems to Ukraine and said on Friday that sending the additional systems will not affect its contribution to the Nato defence alliance. - Reuters
