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Germany says Merz spoke to Netanyahu, voiced concern for hostages, Gazans

By Reuters 9 May 2025, 1:17 pm Edit
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, meets Germany's then-opposition leader, now Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, February 12, 2024. (Kobi Gideon / GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, meets Germany's then-opposition leader, now Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, February 12, 2024. (Kobi Gideon / GPO)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed his concern about the fate of the hostages and the humanitarian plight in Gaza in a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a German government spokesperson says in a statement.

Merz “expressed his hope that negotiations on a ceasefire would soon get underway,” says the spokesperson, who adds that the situation in Syria was also discussed in yesterday’s call.

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