In a statement at the beginning of the NATO summit and the subsequent EU Council meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed hope for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, as well as in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that the conflict should not escalate into a full-scale war in the region. Merz appealed to both Iran and Israel to follow the proposal of a ceasefire put forward by US President Donald Trump, which called for a 12-hour halt in attacks by the Iranian side before Israel would do the same.
The proposal, made by Trump, was met with a mixed response, as the Iranian government showed willingness to stop its attacks if Israel would do the same, but shortly after the proposed start of the ceasefire, the Israeli military reported the interception of a rocket from Iran.
Turning to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the Chancellor stated that the German government would critically question the goals of Israel in the region, calling for a humane treatment of the people in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that the moment has come for a ceasefire in Gaza, as the initially agreed ceasefire was broken by Israel in mid-March.
The Chancellor also emphasized the importance of never becoming desensitized to war atrocities, recalling the founding of the European Union as a significant achievement in this regard. However, he acknowledged that the current reality is different, with the war in Ukraine, the Hamas attacks on Israel and the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program, all of which affect Germany’s freedom, security and well-being.
The NATO summit in The Hague was described by Merz as historic, with the decision to invest more significantly in the country’s security in the face of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the potential for further aggression by Russia. The Chancellor announced that the German military would be strengthened to become the strongest conventional army in Europe, a move expected by the country’s partners due to its size, performance and geographical location. Germany, the Chancellor stated, is once again a major player on the European and international stage.