"Israel has the right to defend itself," Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany said in a post on his X account, Paralel.Az reports.

"Hamas has been holding women, elderly people, children hostage for more than 5 weeks. We demand the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages! Israel has the right and the duty to defend itself," the Chancellor stated.

Scholz also noted that humanitarian pauses and the protection of civilians are highly important.