TEL AVIV: Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed cautious confidence on Monday that the initial stage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative could be implemented within a week, calling it a vital test for all sides involved in the prolonged conflict.
At a joint press conference in Tel Aviv with Israeli and U.S. counterparts, Wadephul emphasized that the first phase, focused on achieving a ceasefire, releasing hostages and prisoners, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, was both “feasible and urgent.”
“The immediate priority must be ending the fighting, freeing those held captive, and delivering essential supplies to civilians in Gaza,” Wadephul stated. “Political negotiations and reconstruction will naturally take longer, but this first step must not wait.”
Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem indicated that Qatari and Egyptian mediators have intensified efforts in coordination with Washington to ensure tangible progress before the upcoming UN Security Council briefing.
European officials noted that Germany’s active engagement underscores Berlin’s effort to strengthen transatlantic cooperation amid regional uncertainty and mixed reactions to Trump’s peace diplomacy.
“We cannot afford to abandon diplomacy now,” Wadephul concluded. “The success of this first phase will determine whether peace efforts can truly move forward.”
