UK, France, Germany join calls for Gaza talks to resume

Britain, France and Germany are calling for Israel and Hamas to “urgently” agree to a ceasefire deal, following a joint statement by the US, Qatar and Egypt calling for negotiations to resume.

London “fully endorses” a joint statement from Qatar, Egypt and the United States urging the resumption of talks for a hostage release deal next week, Britain’s top diplomat David Lammy said in a statement.

“There can be no more delays, the fighting must stop now,” Lammy argues, while demanding “all hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas must be released.”

French President Emmanuel Macron says the war in Gaza “must stop” amid fears of it morphing into a regional conflict.

“It’s crucial for the people of Gaza, for the hostages and for the stability of the region, which is at stake today,” Macron says in a post in English and French on X.

In Germany, a spokesman says German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also strongly supported the call issued Thursday by the US, Egypt and Qatar.

Israel confirmed late Thursday that it had agreed to resume truce talks on August 15 at the demand of the three mediators.