Wadephul: delighted at imminent release of hostages and ceasefire
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has pledged Germany’s support for international efforts to achieve a peace settlement in the Middle East.
Berlin (dpa) – Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has welcomed the agreement reached in negotiations to end the Gaza war. “The agreement on the first phase means that the release of the hostages and a ceasefire are now imminent,” Wadephul said in Berlin on Thursday. He expressed relief at the breakthrough, adding that Germany stood ready to support the next steps towards peace.
US President Donald Trump had earlier announced a breakthrough in the indirect talks between Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement in Egypt. According to him, all hostages held in the Gaza Strip are to be released shortly. In the first phase of the US peace plan, Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line. Hamas confirmed the agreement.
Wadephul is taking part in a meeting in Paris on Thursday with European and Arab foreign ministers to discuss the Gaza peace efforts. The talks are also expected to address the outlines and modalities of possible international involvement once the war ends.