German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday called for advancing to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We need to implement the second phase of the peace plan,” Merz said in a joint statement. The plan, proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, calls for the release of hostages and detainees and the creation of an interim technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, overseen by an international board and backed by a security force.
Merz said Hamas must not play a role in Gaza, while Netanyahu said the first phase of the ceasefire was nearly complete and that he would meet Trump later this month to discuss next steps.
Merz added that Germany supports the Palestinian Authority but has not recognized a Palestinian state, citing a lack of conditions for independence. He said a two-state solution could only come through negotiations.
Netanyahu rejected Palestinian statehood, saying it would threaten Israel’s existence, but voiced hope for further normalization agreements with Arab nations.
The two leaders also met with Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Merz visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and met President Isaac Herzog. His trip followed Germany’s recent decision to lift a partial embargo on weapons exports to Israel.