Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 3, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Germany’s Merz: Israel can’t respond to Hamas ‘cynicism’ by halting aid
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech at a conference for economic policy organized by the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in Berlin, Germany, on June 23, 2025. (Tobias Schwarz/ AFP)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says that recent propaganda videos released by Hamas showing Israeli hostages only further underscore that the terror group can have no future role in ruling Gaza.
In an interview with the Bild newspaper, Germany’s chancellor insists the videos of emaciated hostages Ram Braslavski, a German-Israeli citizen, and Evyatar David, “show that Hamas should no longer play a role in the future of Gaza.”
But Merz calls on Israel not to “respond to Hamas’s cynicism” by halting humanitarian aid to the territory, where UN-mandated experts have warned of unfolding famine.
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