The German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, has pledged further support to Israel in the wake of the devastating attacks carried out by the Islamist militant group, Hamas, resulting in the loss of innocent Israeli lives.

Germany has taken a significant step by granting Israel permission to utilize two of its combat drones, specifically the Heron TP, in its ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip.

According to the German Ministry of Defence, the request made by Israel to deploy unmanned aircraft has been approved, highlighting Germany’s commitment to assisting in the fight against Hamas.

The Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, is currently leasing five drones from an Israeli arms manufacturer. Two of these unmanned aerial vehicles are already in Israel, where German soldiers are trained in their use.

An official report from Der Spiegel, a renowned German news magazine, reveals that the training of German pilots has been temporarily suspended as the drones are redeployed.

Speaking at a NATO defence ministers’ meeting earlier this week, Minister Pistorius expressed willingness to provide additional aid to Israel if the situation worsened. This support could include delivering humanitarian assistance upon request from Israel.

Prior to this announcement, Israeli officials had previously stated that they did not require military or technical assistance. However, Minister Pistorius clarified that the support being offered by Germany is of a political nature.

The conflict between Hamas, the ruling militant group in Gaza, and Israel initiated a large-scale attack on Saturday. In response, Israel has been carrying out airstrikes in the densely populated coastal enclave.

Tragically, the violence has led to a high number of casualties, with over 1,000 people on both sides losing their lives.

NAN