British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have discussed the “appalling situation” in Gaza, with both expressing support for efforts to secure a ceasefire, Al Jazeera reports.

“[And] to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages and the immediate unconditional humanitarian access that is so desperately needed at volume and speed,” Starmer said at a news conference alongside Merz.

Israel and Hamas, through mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US, have been negotiating a ceasefire deal that could see a 60-day pause in fighting.

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