de flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by dpa.

EPP Leader Weber on Gaza Ceasefire: A Day of Joy

by AI | 20.Jan 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The chairman of the European People’s Party expresses delight at the developments in the Gaza Strip. However, there remains skepticism about whether the deal between Israel and Hamas will hold.

Manfred Weber (CSU), chairman of the EPP (European People's Party) group in the European Parliament, speaks at the press conference after the CDU meeting with heads of state and government of the EPP. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa

Berlin (dpa) – EPP leader Manfred Weber sees the Gaza deal between Israel and the Islamist Hamas as a central interim step towards ending the violence. “Today is first and foremost a day of joy that we have the chance for a ceasefire,” said the politician from the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) at the conclusion of a retreat of top representatives of the bourgeois-conservative European People’s Party (EPP) in Berlin, when asked whether the EU should participate in monitoring a possible ceasefire.

Weber added that in all further steps, one must carefully weigh up with the Israeli partners and the Palestinian side who can best contribute to ensuring stability.

CDU Chancellor candidate Merz: No peace over the heads of the Ukrainians

The party leader and chancellor candidate of the German Christian Democrats (CDU), Friedrich Merz, said: “We all hope that this ceasefire, which has now been agreed, really holds. All further questions do not arise at the moment.” This also concerns a possible participation in monitoring a ceasefire in Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. The situation there is currently extremely critical.

He added: “The most important thing is that we come to peace in Ukraine as quickly as possible.” However, this must not be a peace concluded over the heads of the Ukrainians, “by whoever,” said Merz. The new US President Donald Trump has announced that he will end the war in the shortest possible time. (January 18)