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Germany has announced plans to co-organise an international conference with Egypt aimed at the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday, as Israel and Hamas move closer to ending hostilities.
Merz said the primary focus of the conference would be addressing urgent humanitarian needs, including the restoration of water and energy supplies, as well as medical care.
A spokeswoman for the German development ministry added that Berlin could rapidly provide 850 temporary accommodation units for Gaza, noting that 90 to 92 per cent of buildings in the territory have been badly damaged or destroyed.
“Fifty of them are in Ramallah and can quickly be brought to Gaza so that people can be provided with urgently needed shelter,” she said.
The announcement coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confirmation that the government had “approved the framework” for a hostage release deal with Hamas.
Merz emphasised that the deal must be implemented swiftly and that hostages, including German nationals, must be returned to their families.
Germany pledged an additional 29 million euros ($33.6 million) in humanitarian aid and said it would support the medical and psychological care of the released hostages.
Netanyahu stated that 48 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 20 are still alive and 28 are deceased.
Among the dead is an Israeli soldier killed in 2014, whose remains are still held by Hamas, while four of the living hostages are reported to be German nationals.
Merz stressed the importance of ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza quickly, underscoring Germany’s commitment to addressing both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction needs.
