France’s Macron and Germany’s Merz: Release of hostages, end of Gaza war ‘within reach’

By AFP 4 October 2025, 2:19 am

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French President Emmanuel Macron says a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held in the coastal territory are “within reach,” after Hamas said it was ready for peace talks.

“The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!” Macron writes on X, joining a chorus of hopeful reactions to the Palestinian Islamist terror group’s response to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meanwhile says that “peace in Gaza and the release of the hostages are within reach.”

Merz adds in posts on the X platform that Trump’s plan represents “the best chance for peace” in the conflict and that Germany “fully supports” Trump’s “call upon both sides.”