BERLIN 

German Chancellor Scholz welcomed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that took effect Sunday, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza while advocating for a long-term two-state solution.

“At last the guns are silent. Israeli hostages are finally being released. And now more humanitarian aid must reach Gaza quickly,” he said in a statement posted on X, as the first phase of the deal began on Sunday with the release of three Israeli captives.

“The civilian population in Gaza has suffered terribly. Their fate is also of concern to us. We should use the momentum now to work towards ensuring that a Palestinian state can coexist peacefully with the state of Israel,” Scholz said, emphasizing that sustainable peace in the region requires addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term political solutions.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on Sunday after a nearly three-hour delay, with Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, handing over three Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City. As part of the agreement, 90 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons were expected to be released on the first day of the ceasefire.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in what has become one of the worst global humanitarian disasters to date.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.