Gaza Conflict
January 14, 2009
Interior Ministry State Secretary August Hanning said the move to send police and interior ministry experts to Egypt would fulfill a request from the Egyptian government "to support securing Egypt's border area with German expertise."
One of Israel's key demands for a ceasefire of its 18-day offensive into Gaza is destruction or closure of the tunnels underneath the Egyptian border used to smuggle weapons into Gaza for the Hamas militia.
Israel charges the rockets, which have an increasingly long reach into Israel, are supplied by Iran and smuggled across the Egyptian border.
Details of the German mission were not available. Sources close to the ministry said it could involve advice on either stopping the smuggling or setting up controls in the hinterland.
Steinmeier indicated aid
Active police help was not planned.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier indicated during his weekend visit to the Middle East that professionals from Germany's police and customs departments would travel to the region within the current week.
The German government has also declared its readiness to participate in an international peacekeeping operation.