Germany:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned Thursday that “indirect talks” with armed Islamist group Hamas have been crucial to advancing efforts toward a Middle East ceasefire.
“Of course there must be indirect talks with Hamas,” Merkel told a forum on Europe, noting that Egypt and other Arab nations have been currently attempting to mediate among Israel and the Gaza Strip’s Islamist rulers.
“Of course Hamas has to be included because without Hamas there will be no ceasefire.”
Merkel was speaking as her foreign minister, Heiko Maas, started a one-day diplomatic mission to the area.
He spoke with Israeli officials and was also due to meet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. But the German minister had no plans to meet with Hamas, which the European Union considers a terrorist organisation.
His pay a visit to was element of stepped up efforts toward a ceasefire to stem 10 days of deadly violence among Israel and armed Palestinian groups in Gaza.
Egypt has sought to mediate a ceasefire among Hamas and Israel considering the fact that the deadly violence erupted on May 10.
Merkel referred to as Cairo “a very very important major player in every issue when it comes to whether there will be a ceasefire”.
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