UPDATE - Germany renews call for a longer-lasting Gaza cease-fire

UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES FROM GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ADDS BACKGROUND

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday called for a longer-lasting cease-fire in Gaza, saying there is an urgent need to deliver more humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.

"What is now must be achieved as quickly as possible is a somewhat longer cease-fire,” Scholz told lawmakers, adding that this could enable the delivery of humanitarian aid and release of hostages held by Hamas.

The chancellor said he is optimistic about the ongoing cease-fire talks, and noted that Germany is also trying to contribute to a positive outcome here, by its diplomatic engagements.

“I don’t want to give false hope here, but I have the impression that it's more realistic at the moment than it has been for a long time,” he said.

The Social Democrat politician also called on the Israeli government to allow more aid deliveries to Gaza by land.

“For us, It is crucial that everything should be done to ensure that sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Gaza,” Scholz said.

“More border crossings must to be opened so that more trucks can get to Gaza. Our goal is not 200, but more than 500 trucks every day, this is the only way to guarantee security of supply for the people in Gaza,” he added.

Scholz said European leaders will discuss the Middle East conflict, and prospects for a political solution during a two-day summit in Brussels beginning on Thursday.

He underlined that Germany bears special responsibility for Israel due to its history, but said Berlin supports a two-state solution such that Israelis and the Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace.

"It must now become clear how there can be a future for the peaceful coexistence of Israel and a Palestinian state,” Scholz said.

But he insisted that the Palestinian Authority must first take steps for political reform and improve democratic representation.

The German chancellor reiterated his government’s opposition to an immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.

"We will not agree if someone now says that the Palestinian Authority should be recognized immediately,” he said, referring to calls by EU members Ireland and Spain.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive against Gaza since an attack by the Palestine group, Hamas, in October, which killed nearly 1,200 people.

More than 31,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and almost 74,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while much of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, and an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.