Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. According to government spokesman Stefan Kornelius, the Chancellor expressed significant concern regarding the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
During the discussion, Merz urged Netanyahu to undertake “everything in his power” to achieve an immediate ceasefire. He also called for the immediate delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza, emphasizing that this assistance must reach them “rapidly, safely and in the necessary quantities”. Kornelius stated that the previously announced measures by the Israeli government now require swift and substantial follow-up actions.
The German government, Kornelius confirmed, will closely monitor developments. In coordination with the E3 nations (France, Germany and the United Kingdom), alongside other European partners, the United States and Arab states, Berlin will determine in the coming days how best to contribute to an improvement in the situation.
Kornelius reiterated that the recognition of Palestinian statehood remains an issue not currently under consideration in Berlin. The German government continues to view it as one of the concluding steps towards achieving a two-state solution.
