Berlin urges Beijing and Moscow to approve resolution for Hamas disarmament

The German Foreign Minister, the conservative Johann Wadephul, urged China and Russia this Tuesday to facilitate the approval in the Security Council of a resolution to implement the peace plan for Gaza promoted by the US and allow the disarmament of the radical Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. "As I said a few days ago, the disarmament of Hamas is fundamental to the success of this process. We already see that Hamas is not willing to voluntarily cede power, so pressure will have to be exerted," Wadephul insisted at a press conference in Bucharest after meeting with his Romanian counterpart, Oana Toiu. In response to a question about the next steps to be taken to move towards a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, the head of German diplomacy stressed the importance of establishing a legal framework for the deployment of protection forces from various countries in the Gaza Strip, which in turn, he considered, should be "fundamental" to achieve the disarmament of Hamas. "As far as I know, the conversations with China have led to a joint resolution and I hope it is successful, as we need a legal framework for the protection forces of the Gaza Strip and I encourage everyone to participate in this constructive dialogue," added the minister, calling the approval of said resolution "essential". After making a "call to everyone" to participate in "this constructive dialogue", Wadephul was "optimistic" about the success of the peace process, considering that "the will of all those involved is clear." The Peace process promoted by the American president, Donald Trump, and approved by Hamas and the Israeli Government, began to be implemented last Friday with a ceasefire and continued the day before, Monday, with the handover to Israel of the 20 living hostages that Hamas had held captive for more than two years, as well as the release of some 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Trump's 20-point plan for "Peace in the Middle East" forms the basis of a declaration signed yesterday in a ceremony in the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheikh by the head of the White House himself and the leaders of the other mediating countries (Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey).