Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) expressed hope that the long-negotiated hostage deal between Israel and the Hamas will come to fruition, despite ongoing uncertainties. In an interview with RTL and ntv, Baerbock said, “In these turbulent times, nothing is 100 percent certain. However, it is crystal clear that all responsible parties must now realize that if we want to achieve a political and peaceful solution, the deal on the table is the one that can make it happen. And everyone has the responsibility to accept this deal now.”
Baerbock also highlighted the intensity of the negotiations over the past 15 months, stating, “As the international community, we have worked in close cooperation with Arab neighboring countries, the US, the UK, France, and Germany to achieve this deal, so that the remaining hostages can finally be released.”
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas could potentially lead to the release of the remaining 98 hostages, with some possibly being freed over the weekend. When asked if any of the hostages are German, Baerbock neither confirmed nor denied the information.