Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) met with family members of German citizens held hostage by Hamas at the Chancellery on Tuesday morning. Following the meeting, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated that the Chancellor emphasized the urgent need to end the suffering of the hostages and their families.
Merz directly called on Hamas to release all hostages immediately, ensuring they receive humane treatment and access to necessary medical assistance. He acknowledged the crucial work and remarkable strength displayed by the families in their efforts to secure the hostages’ release and promote peace in Gaza.
The Chancellor also welcomed the peace plan for Gaza presented by US President Donald Trump the previous day, describing it as the most promising opportunity for an end to the conflict since October 2023. He highlighted Israel’s support for the plan as a significant step forward and urged Hamas to endorse it and clear the path towards peace. Kornelius further stated that the Chancellor expressed gratitude to the US President for his persistent efforts and commended the engagement of regional Arab nations and other Muslim countries in influencing Hamas.
The German government is maintaining close contact with the United States, European counterparts and regional partners during these critical days. Germany has declared its readiness to actively contribute to the implementation of the proposed plan.