German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he hopes that ending the Gaza war will also help ease political tensions in Germany, which have flared amid a rise in anti-Semitic incidents since the conflict began two years ago.

Merz told ARD radio on Thursday in response to a question about what a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages could mean for Germany: “I very much hope that calm will return domestically as well.”

He added that he especially hopes “that Jewish citizens will once again feel safer and that these unbearable anti-Semitic incidents will become a thing of the past, or at least much less frequent.”

Merz also said there would be “no reason anymore to demonstrate for the Palestinians in Germany” once peace is restored in Gaza.

The Gaza war, ignited by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, also deepened divisions in Germany. Anti-Semitic incidents increased, and numerous protests occurred against Israeli military actions and Germany’s support for Israel.

Some protests turned violent, and authorities have repeatedly opened investigations against participants for using banned slogans.

Following a breakthrough in peace talks, Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement agreed on the first phase of a peace plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump.