Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz. AFP
Merz also "stressed that the urgently needed humanitarian aid must now reach the people in the Gaza Strip in a safe and humane manner" and that the "disarmament of Hamas was imperative", his office said in a statement.
"The chancellor expressed his hope for a speedy ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. All remaining Hamas hostages, including those with German citizenship, must be released immediately."
The statement added that Merz "advocated for finding a viable post-war order for Gaza that takes into account Israeli security needs and the Palestinian right to self-determination".
The chancellor also "emphasised that there should be no steps towards annexing the West Bank".
Speaking earlier at a Berlin press conference, Merz labelled the situation in Gaza -- suffering under Israeli war and blockade -- as "no longer acceptable".
He also emphasised Germany's commitment to Israel's security, saying: "We are doing everything we can to do justice to both sides, it is clear where we stand.
"But we also see the suffering of the Palestinian population and are trying to do everything possible to provide humanitarian aid here as well."
Israel’s 21-month war on Gaza has killed at least 58,667 Palestinians and injured nearly 140,000, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The war, compounded by an Israeli blockade, has caused catastrophic humanitarian conditions, displacing most residents and triggering severe shortages of food and essentials for Gaza’s two million people. The UN warns that the entire Gaza Strip is at risk of famine.
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