10/10/2025October 10, 2025Merz welcomes Gaza ceasefire, thanks Trump for peace initiative
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has hailed the agreed ceasefire in Gaza as “good news for people in the Middle East and far beyond,” after more than two years of war.
In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Merz thanked US President Donald Trump for his peace initiative and expressed gratitude to mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, as well as to Israel “for opening the path to peace.”
Merz said the priority now is the swift implementation of the agreement.
“The hostages, including German citizens, must finally return to their families. The cease-fire must take effect and hold. Humanitarian aid must reach the people in Gaza quickly,” he wrote.
He said Germany will contribute an additional €29 million in humanitarian aid, co-host a reconstruction conference for Gaza with Egypt, and participate in the so-called peace council proposed by Trump.
“Germany stands for Israel’s existence and security,” Merz said, reaffirming that a two-state solution offers the best chance for Israelis and Palestinians to live together in peace and safety.
Merz: No German military involvement in Gaza
While Merz said a lasting peace will have to be secured by an international “stabilization force” that is accepted by all sides, he stated, “German military involvement is not an option.”
Rather, he said, Berlin “wants to help create the legal framework for such a presence, for example via a UN Security Council resolution.”
On Thursday evening, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told public broadcaster ARD:
“Many people can see that it would be difficult for Germany to take part [in a military manner], and other European nations also have reservations. We want to make sure that the countries [involved] are accepted in particular by the Palestinian population, and that means having a Muslim background. That’s why there is readiness from Indonesia and perhaps also from Pakistan and Azerbaijan. That is all being discussed.”