German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union, held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, according to the government’s spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius. The call continued the “close exchange” between the two governments in recent weeks, Kornelius stated.
During the conversation, the Chancellor reiterated the importance of Israel’s security and the right to exist, describing it as “part of German state reason.” He condemned the terror of the Hamas, calling for the group to release all hostages and lay down its arms, Merz said.
Expressing hope for a swift agreement on the release of hostages and a ceasefire, the Chancellor also emphasized the urgent need to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid reaches the Gaza Strip and is safely distributed to the civilian population, Kornelius reported.
The Chancellor reaffirmed the German government’s continued support for a negotiated two-state solution as the best way to enable Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, the spokesperson added.
In a previous statement, Merz had criticized the Israeli government more sharply than usual, saying he no longer understood the goal of the Israeli military’s actions in the Gaza Strip. “The civilian population being increasingly affected, as has been the case in recent days, cannot be justified as a fight against the terrorism of Hamas” the Chancellor said.