German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern about the risk of a regional war in the Middle East during a telephone conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister on Sunday Benjamin Netanyahusaid a government spokesman in Berlin.
The meeting came a day after an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza reportedly killed dozens of civilians. The German Foreign Ministry later called the attack “unacceptable” and called for a ceasefire.
Scholz told Netanyahu that the German government strongly condemns threats by Iran, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and others against the security of Israel and its citizens, spokesman Wolfgang Büchner said.
The Chancellor stressed the need to “break the destructive spiral of retaliatory violence, reduce tensions and work constructively towards de-escalation,” the spokesman said.
Scholz also reiterated that it is time to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by militants in the Palestinian territories.
He said that “many military objectives” in the fight against Hamas have been achieved, but that human suffering in the Gaza Strip continues and is “enormous”.
Concerns have grown about a conflagration in the Middle East, with Iran and its allies announcing plans for retaliation against Israel following the killing of two leading figures from Hamas and Hezbollah.
German Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli attack
Later on Sunday, the German Foreign Ministry again called for a ceasefire in Gaza after condemning the Israeli attack on the school in Gaza City, which drew international condemnation.
“The reports from Gaza are appalling. The killing of civilians seeking protection is unacceptable. The repeated attacks on schools by the Israeli army must stop and be investigated promptly,” the ministry wrote on the social media platform X.
“The entire region urgently needs the humanitarian ceasefire proposed by the US, Egypt and Qatar and the release of the hostages. This opportunity to alleviate the suffering must now be seized with urgency,” the ministry added.
Hamas was also criticized for using civilians as human shields.
At least 93 people were killed in Saturday’s attack in Gaza City, according to Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza. Israel said the attack targeted Hamas commanders.
