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German chancellor opposed to ‘immediate’ ceasefire in Gaza
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, center, visits the Territorial Disposition Group capability demonstration, at Cologne-Wahn military airport, in Cologne, Germany, October 23, 2023. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he opposes an “immediate” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, amid international calls to halt Israel’s bid to destroy Hamas due to the terror group’s unprecedented assault on Israel.
“I don’t think the calls for an immediate ceasefire or long pause — which would amount to the same thing — are right,” Scholz says in a debate organized by the German regional daily Heilbronner Stimme.
“That would mean ultimately that Israel leaves Hamas the possibility of recovering and obtaining new missiles,” he adds, calling instead for “humanitarian pauses.”
Scholz’s stance clashes with many Arab countries and with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is due to meet the German leader in Berlin next week.
