German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday said he sees an end in sight to the war in Gaza, following a ceasfire proposal presented by US President Joe Biden.
In a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Scholz welcomed the deal, which Biden said Israel has accepted.
"The German government joins Washington's appeal: Hamas must finally put an end to its murderous activities and release the hostages. With the Israeli offer, there is now a tangible prospect of an end to the fighting and an end to the war," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
Hebestreit said Scholz also encouraged Israel to provide desperately-needed humanitarian support to the people of Gaza.
Biden on Friday said the new plan envisaged three phases of de-escalation, featuring a ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian territory and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
While Washington said that Israel had endorsed the plan, several far-right members of the Israeli government on Saturday threatened to withdraw from Netanyahu's coalition in case the deal is accepted.
