The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated in remarks reported by Reuters that the agreement reached with Hamas, while painful for "Israel" on several levels, is considered a necessary step to preserve the lives of Israeli hostages held by the movement.

Scholz explained saying: "I fully understand how difficult these decisions are for the Israeli leadership and for Israeli society as a whole. But when it comes to saving lives, the priority must be clear and not subject to delay."

He added that the humanitarian and political challenges surrounding this agreement make it a complex decision, but he emphasized the importance of international cooperation to ensure the agreement is implemented in a way that protects everyone's rights and contributes to easing tensions in the region.

Reactions

Scholz's statements come at a sensitive time, as the Israeli leadership faces internal criticism from the opposition and some components of the government that view the agreement as major concessions, especially if it includes the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.

In this context, Scholz stressed Germany's full support for mediation efforts aimed at making progress on the issue of prisoners, affirming the necessity of continued cooperation among all international and regional parties to achieve lasting solutions that alleviate civilian suffering and contribute to stabilizing the situation.

Importance of the Agreement

It is worth noting that this agreement comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas, where the issue of prisoners is a main point of contention between the two sides. While Israel insists that the return of the hostages is a top priority, Hamas insists that any agreement must include the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Reports indicate that mediation led by international parties, including Egypt and Qatar, played a pivotal role in reaching preliminary understandings, amid international anticipation of the success of this agreement in alleviating the ongoing escalation in the region.