German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has lauded Türkiye, along with Qatar and Egypt, for their instrumental diplomatic efforts in brokering and maintaining the Israel-Hamas cease-fire. Speaking at the international peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, Merz described the truce as a “historic” breakthrough, marking a turning point after two years of devastating conflict in Gaza.
Merz expressed gratitude to the leaders involved, particularly Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for hosting the summit, U.S. President Donald Trump for his mediation initiative, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for their persistent diplomatic engagement. “This is the result of a wide range of efforts,” he said, emphasizing that cooperation among multiple nations made the cease-fire possible.
Calling October 13, 2025, “a historic day,” Merz said the agreement represents hope for a new era of peace and coexistence in the region. He voiced optimism that the cease-fire would evolve into a sustainable peace process between Israel and Palestine. “We have succeeded in ending the conflict, at least for today,” he said.
The summit gathered numerous world leaders, including those from Türkiye, France, Jordan, Italy, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, as well as international figures such as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The meeting marked a unified global call for enduring peace and reconstruction in Gaza.