The German Ambassador in Cairo, Jürgen Schulz, stated that his country is using its political weight and strong relationship with Israel to influence the ongoing war’s course. He pointed to continuous communication between the German Foreign Minister and his Egyptian and Israeli counterparts, aiming to push efforts toward a ceasefire and a resolution, adding that the matter is not easy.

Schulz noted in a press conference this morning that former U.S. President Donald Trump met last week with several world leaders to consult on the Middle East situation and expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire agreement and the release of prisoners.

He added: Today Netanyahu meets Donald Trump, where the Israeli side is expected to approve a peace plan described as ambitious. We feel there is a possibility for a turning point in the current situation and hope this leads to a ceasefire and improved humanitarian conditions as soon as possible, followed by negotiations on reconstruction and support.

The ambassador affirmed the German government’s rejection of any displacement of Palestinians, whether inside or outside Palestinian territories, clarifying that this stance is not only due to fears of illegal migration to Europe but also for legal and humanitarian reasons.

He touched on the assessment by some Arab countries and citizens of Germany’s position, saying some are dissatisfied with it, but Germany bases its policies on its historical experiences and view of the situation. He pointed out that this is not limited to Germany internally, as there are sharp debates about the Palestinian issue, with voices criticizing the government and others calling for more support for Israel. Ultimately, the government considers all these positions.

Schulz considered preventing Israeli participants from cultural or sports events to be wrong, emphasizing that artists or athletes are not necessarily political decision-makers.

He also rejected describing what is happening in Gaza as “genocide,” explaining that such a description must be based on a clear judicial ruling. He confirmed that what is happening is a great humanitarian tragedy, but Germany does not adopt the term genocide.

Regarding UN reform, the ambassador stressed his country’s conviction that the organization urgently needs restructuring, especially after more than 80 years since its founding. He said there were calls for reform at the 2005 summit, but disagreements remained about implementation mechanisms, especially regarding the veto power. He hopes the next UN summit will be an opportunity to take real steps.

On Egyptian-German relations, the ambassador revealed that trade exchange between Egypt and Germany amounts to about 5 billion euros, praising investment prospects in Egypt, especially with the recent opening of the German company “Bosch” for electrical appliances.

He added that cooperation extends to technical schools to qualify graduates for the labor market, reflecting Germany’s interest in skilled labor, noting that obtaining certificates and training recognized in Germany represents the biggest challenge for Egyptian workers.

He also pointed to the opening of the Egyptian-German school as the first pilot model within the agreement to establish 100 new German schools in Egypt, affirming that investment in education is a top priority.

Schulz noted that the Egyptian economy shows strong stability compared to three years ago, with the start of reforms in some economic structures and increased private sector role. He said his country is ready to support these reforms, confirming cooperation in green transformation and renewable energy projects, including the wind farms project in Suez that supplies about two million homes with electricity. He announced that Germany aims to import green hydrogen from Egypt within the next two years.

The ambassador also highlighted the high level of reciprocal visits between officials of the two countries over the past year, considering this evidence of the strength of Egyptian-German relations. He revealed his country’s participation with a high-level delegation in the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum on November 1, befitting Egypt’s stature.