German foreign minister visits Gaza

[oberliner]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Germany's foreign minister paid a rare visit to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Monday, calling on Israel to ease a blockade on the territory and urging Hamas prevent rockets from being fired into Israel.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the latest Western diplomat, including U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, to tour Gaza since a 50-day war with Israel last summer.

Israel launched its offensive in response to heavy rocket fire. More than 2,200 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, and 73 people on the Israeli side were killed. An estimated 18,000 homes in Gaza were destroyed, and thousands more damaged.

The European Union considers Hamas a terror group. Steinmeier was accompanied by gunmen who report to Hamas during their visit, as are all VIP's visiting Gaza.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/international/middle_east/2015/06/german_foreign_minister_visits_gaza