BERLIN — Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul intensified diplomatic efforts on Tuesday to secure a United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing U.S. President Donald Trump's ambitious Gaza ceasefire plan, emphasizing the need for broad international consensus to ensure its long-term viability. Speaking during a high-level visit to Romania, Wadephul highlighted the indispensable role of Russia and China—permanent members with veto power—in forging a unified legal framework for deploying multinational peacekeepers to the war-torn enclave.
"Initial talks are also underway with Russia and China on a joint resolution, as far as I know. I hope this will be successful," Wadephul stated at a joint press conference in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart, Oana Țoiu. "Because we need a legal framework for the deployment of peacekeepers from different countries in the Gaza Strip." The minister's remarks underscore Germany's proactive stance in bridging divides within the Security Council, where geopolitical tensions have historically stymied action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Wadephul, a seasoned diplomat from the Christian Democratic Union, urged all Council members to adopt a "constructive approach," stressing that the plan's security provisions—particularly the disarming of Hamas—and mechanisms for humanitarian access are non-negotiable for sustainable peace. "I remain optimistic that this process will succeed because the commitment of everyone involved so far remains strong," he added. "We should seize this momentum together." His optimism comes at a pivotal moment, just days after the first phase of Trump's 20-point proposal took effect, marking the most significant de-escalation in the two-year Gaza war that has claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives and displaced nearly the entire population of the 2.3 million-resident territory.
The Gaza conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a cross-border assault into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign, aimed at dismantling Hamas's governance and military capabilities, has drawn widespread international condemnation for its scale and humanitarian toll, with the UN and human rights groups accusing Israel of disproportionate force bordering on genocide. Previous ceasefire attempts, including a fragile January 2025 truce that collapsed after two months amid mutual violations, have left deep scars, fueling skepticism about the durability of the current accord.
Trump's plan, unveiled on September 29, 2025, during a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, envisions a phased transition from war to reconstruction. In its opening salvo, Wadephul's call aligns with a flurry of European and Arab diplomatic initiatives, including a Paris meeting last week where EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the proposal as "the best chance we have right now" for sustainable peace. Germany, a staunch ally of Israel with deep historical ties, has balanced its unwavering support for Jerusalem's security with vocal demands for Palestinian civilian protections, a tightrope Wadephul navigated deftly in Bucharest.
The catalyst for this renewed urgency was Monday's landmark summit in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The gathering, attended by over 20 world leaders but conspicuously absent Israeli and Hamas representatives, culminated in the signing of a declaration endorsing the ceasefire's first phase. Trump hailed it as a "new beautiful day," declaring the war's end and vowing personal oversight of Gaza's reconstruction through an international "Board of Peace" he would chair, potentially alongside figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Under the first phase, which activated at noon local time on October 10 following Israeli Cabinet approval, Hamas released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages—handed over via the International Committee of the Red Cross in Khan Younis—along with the bodies of four deceased captives. In reciprocity, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences for terrorism-related convictions, from facilities like Ofer and Ketziot. Israeli forces withdrew from densely populated northern and central zones, retreating to a perimeter line that cedes about 47% of Gaza while retaining oversight of key border crossings. Humanitarian convoys, coordinated by Egypt and Qatar, surged into the Strip, delivering over 1,000 tons of food, medicine, and fuel in the initial 48 hours—easing a blockade that had exacerbated famine risks for 2.1 million residents.
"This is not only the end of a war. This is the end of an age of terror and death," Trump proclaimed earlier that day in a Knesset address in Jerusalem, where he met with hostage families and Netanyahu. The U.S. president's itinerary—Israel first, then Egypt—symbolized his hands-on brokerage, crediting envoys like Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner for the breakthrough. Yet, the summit exposed fault lines: Netanyahu cited Jewish holidays for skipping Sharm el-Sheikh, though Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly vetoed his attendance to avoid friction with Ankara, a key mediator.
Subsequent phases of Trump's blueprint promise even greater challenges. Phase two, already underway per Trump's summit remarks, mandates Hamas's full demilitarization—surrendering weapons stockpiles estimated at 20,000 rockets and heavy arms—and the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian governing body, supervised by the international board. This interim administration, drawing from reformed Palestinian Authority elements and non-Hamas technocrats, would oversee a five-year reconstruction effort funded by a $100 billion Gulf-led consortium, focusing on housing, desalination plants, and schools in a Strip where 80% of buildings lie in ruins.
Phase three envisions the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), comprising troops from Arab states like Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, alongside European contributors, to secure Gaza's borders and prevent rearmament. Full Israeli withdrawal would follow, paving the way for Gaza's integration into a Palestinian state under a two-state solution—a cornerstone reiterated by Sisi, who called Trump's plan the "last chance" for regional peace. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed this, pledging scaled-up aid and reconstruction support while warning that "the UN will support the full implementation" to avert relapse.
Global reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, though tempered by caution. French President Emmanuel Macron termed it a "moment of profound relief" for hostages' families and Gaza's civilians. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed Britain's "steadfast support" for aid delivery. A joint statement from foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt lauded Trump's "sincere efforts," committing to a "comprehensive deal" ensuring no Palestinian displacement and full Israeli pullout. Even China and Russia, often at odds with Western initiatives, signaled openness; Beijing's foreign ministry "welcomed" de-escalation efforts, while Moscow's envoy in Bucharest privately assured Wadephul of constructive engagement.
Yet, cracks persist. Hamas's exiled leader, Khalil al-Hayya, framed the deal as a "victory" born of "enormous sacrifices," but omitted explicit disarmament commitments, fueling Israeli hawks like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who threatened coalition rupture if Hamas retains influence. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a rival faction, decried the accord as a "recipe to blow up the region," though it acquiesced under pressure. On the ground, celebrations in Khan Younis and Tel Aviv's Hostages Square gave way to skirmishes: Tuesday saw six Palestinian deaths from Israeli fire in northern Gaza, which Hamas labeled a truce violation, while the IDF accused militants of probing the perimeter.
Analysts view Wadephul's UN push as a masterstroke, leveraging Germany's Security Council candidacy for 2027-28 to amplify Europe's voice. "A resolution isn't just procedural—it's a shield against spoilers," said Carnegie Europe fellow Rosa Balfour, noting EU debates on suspending trade perks with Israel if phase two falters. With reconstruction costs ballooning to $90 billion per World Bank estimates, donors like Japan and the EU are mobilizing, but insist on verifiable Hamas compliance.
As Wadephul departed Bucharest for Berlin, he invoked the UN's "unique" mantle for global stability, echoing his September UN General Assembly speech decrying Gaza as "hell on earth." Two years post-October 7, the enclave teeters on renewal or ruin. Trump's juggernaut diplomacy, bolstered by Sisi's mediation and Erdogan's backchanneling, has thawed a frozen conflict—but as Wadephul warned, "Great efforts still lie ahead." Seizing the momentum, as he urged, demands not just ink on resolutions, but ironclad resolve from foes turned fragile partners. The world watches, hopeful yet haunted by history's echoes.
