Agency Report –
US President Donald Trump’s peace proposal for Gaza is “the best chance so far to end the war,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday.
Israel’s support for the plan – as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following his visit to the White House on Monday – is a significant step forward, Merz said.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas must now agree and clear the way for peace, he argued, saying that Germany is ready to make a concrete contribution to the implementation of the plan.
“This applies politically, it applies in humanitarian terms and, of course, it also applies to the reconstruction of the region.”
Merz on Tuesday received relatives of German hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attacks at the Chancellery in Berlin. He called on the militant organization to release all remaining hostages.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul earlier described Trump’s proposal as a “unique opportunity” that brings hope to hundreds of thousands suffering in the enclave.
“It offered hope for hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza suffering from fierce fighting, cruel captivity and unimaginable humanitarian distress,” Wadephul said on Monday. “There is finally hope for Israelis and Palestinians that this war could soon end.”
