German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday and expressed hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza while calling for safe access to humanitarian aid there, a German government spokesperson said.

“The chancellor emphasised that the urgently needed humanitarian aid must now reach the people in the Gaza Strip in a safe and humane manner,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“The chancellor emphasised that there must be no steps towards annexation of the West Bank.”