German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday urged greater progress in shaping the political and economic future of the Gaza Strip, following the release of further hostages by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“It is now important that the ceasefire holds and that all hostages are released. And that the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are reliably and comprehensively supplied with humanitarian and medical aid,” Scholz said at a joint press conference in Berlin with visiting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Scholz said the German government is pleased that Israeli hostages have again been released from the hands of Islamists Hamas, which he described as a terrorist group following its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The German chancellor emphasized that Gaza must never again become the starting point for “murderous terrorism,” and that Palestinians living in Gaza need to be given prospects for lives of freedom and dignity in order to avoid the territory becoming a “breeding ground for extremism and hatred.”
“Germany, the EU, are prepared to play their part in this if the framework conditions are right,” Scholz said.
He called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take responsibility for administering Gaza, which has been extensively destroyed during Israel’s campaign of airstrikes and military ground offensives.
After more than a year of war, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into force two weeks ago.
During the initial six-week phase, 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas are to be exchanged for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Seven of the 33 hostages have already been released. A total of 90 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, most of whom were abducted during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in 2023.
