How involved will Germany be in Gaza's future?

Chancellor Merz has promised donations for humanitarian aid and reconstruction. But questions remain about what role Berlin might play in an...

Chancellor Merz has promised donations for humanitarian aid and reconstruction. But questions remain about what role Berlin might play in an international coalition governing Gaza.

On Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a flying visit to the Egyptian resort town of Shark El-Sheikh to be one of 20 heads of state and government on hand for the signing of the 20-point plan between Israel and Hamas. After posing for a photo op with US President Donald Trump, Merz gave a brief statement to journalists outlining Germany's role in the next steps of the peace process.

Or rather — its potential role, as many details of Trump's plan are still unclear.

What has Germany promised so far?

First, Merz shot down speculation that Berlin would send soldiers as part of a possible stabilization mission. He then clarified: "Germany will do its part. And above all, we see it as our humanitarian obligation to do everything we can in the coming days and weeks to ensure that the people who still live [in Gaza] are provided with adequate medical care."

Germany has already pledged €29 million ($33.8 million) for immediate humanitarian aid — a small sum, given the vast destruction and famine conditions created in Gaza during a monthslong blockade. To that end, Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan promised on Sunday that Germany would be able to fund a nine-figure sum for reconstruction, much of it coming from development funds for the Palestinian territories that Germany froze after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

An exact sum has not been announced. So far the government has only committed to immediately funding 50 temporary units in Gaza that could house around 350 people.

Nearly all of the 2.3 million people who lived in Gaza as of October 2023 have been displaced multiple times. According to Gaza health officials at least 68,000 people — most of them civilians — have been killed as of October 15, 2025, with numerous experts saying the actual death toll could be far higher. UN estimates as of October 2025 indicate that 92% of all residential buildings in Gaza have been severely damaged or totally destroyed.

Germany to co-host donor conference

One thing is clear: together with Egypt, Germany is set to host a donor conference for Gaza in the coming weeks, probably in Cairo.

A few weeks ago, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi presented a plan for rebuilding Gaza's decimated coastline at a cost of around $53 billion. While many Arab and European countries have made it clear they intend to donate, the US made it equally clear it will not, making a donor conference increasingly important.

Renewed debate over weapons deliveries

The ceasefire agreement has reignited debate in Germany over arms shipments to Israel. In August, amidst mounting pressure to act amidst the climbing civilian death toll in Gaza, Merz agreed to stop approving some new military equipment deliveries. Exports of weaponry parts and military matériel have continued.

Now, many within his own bloc are calling for a total reinstatement of weapons exports. Steffen Bilger, of Merz's center-right Christian Democrats (CDU), said that a successful implementation of the ceasefire deal means that Germany should resume all deliveries.

That message was even clearer from the CSU, the CDU's Bavarian sister party. CSU leader Markus Söder called on Merz to approve all exports. CSU parliamentary leader Alexander Hoffmann told the mass circulation Bild newspaper that " The sanctions must be lifted, the delivery restrictions must be lifted, the travel warning must be lifted — and all of this must happen immediately."

The chancellor, however, has signaled that he first wants to ensure that the current positive momentum continues before making any big decisions. On Tuesday, he said there needed to be more clarity on the proposed international coalition that is supposed to maintain interim control of Gaza.

"I don't want to be sitting in the same room in six months' time and have to ask ourselves, ˈWhat went wrong?ˈ That must not happen," Merz said.

This article was originally written in German.

Author: Jens Thurau