BERLIN

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed his government’s commitment to Israel's security during a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday.

In the conversation ahead of the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks, Merz assured Herzog of Germany's solidarity with Israel and its people, the government said in a statement.

“Germany stands up for Israel's existence and security,” Merz told Herzog, according to government spokesman Stefan Kornelius. “This is part of the unchanging essence of German-Israeli relations. It is an expression of lasting historical responsibility,” he stressed.

During the phone call, Merz expressed optimism that an agreement on the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza could be reached in the coming days through indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan for Gaza.

“The talks in Egypt must now bring about a swift agreement. All hostages, including German citizens, must be released immediately. The fighting must end. Hamas must lay down its arms,” Merz said, according to his spokesman.

The chancellor also underscored his government’s strong stance against antisemitism, stating that "there must be no room for antisemitism in Germany." He pledged that the federal government would "do everything in its power to ensure that Jews can live safely in Germany."

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz, a staunch ally of Israel, has repeatedly emphasized Germany’s historical responsibility for Israel’s security, rooted in its Nazi past and the Holocaust.

Although he sharpened his criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in recent weeks and demanded Tel Aviv allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, he resisted opposition lawmakers' calls for an arms embargo and also rejected proposals to suspend the EU-Israel trade agreement.

Last month, the Merz government found itself diplomatically isolated when several close allies—France, the UK, Belgium, Portugal, and Malta—joined more than 140 other countries in recognizing Palestinian statehood, while Berlin maintained its opposition to such recognition.

According to a recent poll by public broadcaster ARD, 63% of Germans oppose Israel's military offensive in Gaza, while 55% want the Merz government to join other EU countries in imposing sanctions against Israel. A separate YouGov survey found that 62% of Germans view Israel's military campaign as “genocide” against Palestinians.