International pressure on Israel and Hamas to negotiate ceasefire grows
"I support the call by President Biden, President Al Sisi, and Emir Al Thani to begin implementing the ceasefire agreement and securing the release of hostages," Scholz wrote on the online service X. "It's time to provide relief to both the hostages and the people of Gaza," he continued.
US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Fatah al-Sisi, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani had already called on Israel and Hamas to resume talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo in a joint statement on Thursday. "It is necessary to return to the negotiating table to close all remaining gaps and begin implementing the agreement without further delay," they said.
Representatives from other countries joined the call to the warring parties. "The United Kingdom welcomes the tireless efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt, and the United States," said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on the online service X that a ceasefire is "the only way to save lives, restore hope for peace, and ensure the return of the hostages."
Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been negotiating for months to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of the hostages still being held there. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled on Thursday that Israel will send a delegation to the agreed-upon location on August 15.
Israeli Defense Minister Joav Gallant stressed in talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on Friday "the importance of quickly reaching an agreement that ensures the return of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip."
However, a US government official dampened expectations of a swift agreement. "It's not like the agreement will be signed on Thursday," he said. There's still a lot of work to be done. Israel has been very open to the talks, the US official continued, dismissing speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is delaying an agreement.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated recently after the former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran last week. Hamas and Iran blame Israel, which has not yet confirmed the killing. Hours earlier, the Israeli army killed the military chief of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia, Fuad Schukr, in Lebanon. Iran and Hezbollah threatened retaliation.
Amid the heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, the US deployed stealth bombers of the F-22 type to the Middle East. The US Central Command (Centcom) responsible for the region did not disclose where the aircraft were deployed or how many there were. Centcom chief Michael Kurilla reportedly traveled to Israel on Thursday, for the second time this week.
Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled Civil Defense Authority in the Gaza Strip reported that at least 18 people were killed and 60 injured in Israeli attacks on two schools in the city of Gaza. The Israeli military explained that the schools were used by Hamas as command centers, from where attacks were planned and carried out.
Triggered by the unprecedented large-scale attack by Hamas fighters and other militant Palestinian groups on Israel on October 7, the war in the Gaza Strip began. According to Israeli reports, 1198 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage into the Gaza Strip. 111 hostages are still being held there, with 39 reportedly dead.
Since October 7, Israel has been conducting large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip. According to reports from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, at least 39,699 people have been killed.
The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, have been actively involved in negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages, as stated by German Chancellor Scholz.
TheUK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his support for the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in their mission to bring about a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages.
