German chancellor opposed to ‘immediate’ ceasefire in Gaza

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday he was opposed to an “immediate” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as calls for a halt to the conflict multiply globally following the Israeli army’s bombardments.

“I freely admit that I don’t think the calls for an immediate ceasefire or long pause -- which would amount to the same thing -- are right, because that would mean ultimately that Israel leaves Hamas the possibility of recovering and obtaining new missiles,” he said in a debate organized by the German regional daily Heilbronner Stimme.