A German government spokesman said on Sunday that Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Reuters quoted the German government spokesman as saying that Scholz told Netanyahu that "the time has come to reach an agreement on the release of the hostages and a ceasefire."
He added that the German Chancellor also stressed to Netanyahu the importance of breaking the destructive cycle of retaliatory violence in the Middle East.
He added that "a ceasefire in Gaza would be a decisive step towards de-escalation in the Middle East."
American, Egyptian and Qatari officials are working to reach an agreement to cease fire in Gaza, before the final round of negotiations on August 15.
The joint American-Egyptian-Qatari statement stressed that "the time has come, immediately, to put an end to the long-standing suffering of the residents of the Gaza Strip, as well as the hostages and their families. It is time to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages and detainees."
The three leaders called on US President Joe Biden, his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, "not to waste any more time, and there should be no excuses from any party for another postponement."
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