German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) engaged in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, focusing on the evolving situation in Gaza, according to a statement released by government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.
During the call, Chancellor Merz reportedly voiced strong support for the Trump administration’s peace plan, emphasizing its potential to facilitate the release of hostages and achieve lasting peace for Gaza nearly two years after the events of October 2023. He welcomed Israel’s endorsement of the plan.
Kornelius stated that the announced withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza represents a significant step forward. He noted that ongoing discussions in Egypt should now swiftly lead to an agreement encompassing a cessation of hostilities, the immediate release of hostages, unrestricted humanitarian access and the disarmament of Hamas.
The German government continues to actively engage diplomatically, maintaining dialogue with partners in the Middle East and the United States, Kornelius added. Chancellor Merz reportedly conveyed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that Germany intends to actively contribute to the plan’s implementation.
Standard practice dictated that no details regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks during the conversation were disclosed.
