In this context, German Foreign Minister Johann Vadephul said in statements Tuesday at a joint press conference in Bucharest with his Romanian counterpart, Oana Silvia Tuiu, that the deployment of a "protection force" from various countries in the Gaza Strip requires a legal framework.
In response to a question about the "Declaration of Intent" signed at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit on Monday, Vadephul considered it essential for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to agree to its implementation.
He noted that consultations were underway with Russia and China to reach a joint decision, saying, "I hope they succeed, because we need a legal framework to mandate a protection force from various countries in the Gaza Strip."
Vadeful called on everyone to engage in constructive dialogue on this issue, noting that "this security element is indispensable for disarming Hamas."
Accountability before justice
For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that achieving peace in Gaza does not mean Israel will escape punishment, emphasizing that "those primarily responsible for the genocide committed in Gaza must be held accountable."
In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Tuesday, Sanchez expressed his pleasure at the "window of opportunity" for peace in Gaza.
He noted that ending the violence in Gaza and creating an opportunity for open dialogue between the two countries is important, but stressed that impunity must not be allowed.
He added, "Peace cannot mean forgetfulness or impunity. Those primarily responsible for the genocide committed in Gaza must be held to justice."
Sanchez noted that the arms embargo on Israel would remain in place until peace was established in Gaza, while not ruling out the possibility of Spain sending troops to Gaza as part of a peacekeeping force.
For his part, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said during a parliamentary session that the signing of the Declaration of Intent at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in Egypt represents the most important opportunity to achieve a two-state solution since the Oslo Accords, which were concluded more than 30 years ago.
He explained that thanks to the ceasefire plan for Gaza spearheaded by US President Donald Trump, prisoners were released, the bombing of Gaza ceased, and humanitarian aid began to enter, stressing that they "have an important opportunity to close a tragic chapter in history."
He described the situation in Gaza over the past two years as "hellish," with nearly every Palestinian in Gaza losing a family member, and nearly 20,000 children killed.
He continued, "Even if a peace agreement is signed, the pain of the losses will not go away. We need aid to enter Gaza more quickly, as there are shortages of food, sanitation, healthcare, and shelter." He emphasized that the signing of the declaration of intent in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday was a historic event, but the most important thing now is to implement the terms of the agreement as quickly as possible.
Starmer praised the international efforts to reach the agreement, saying, "None of this would have happened without President Trump. It's his agreement, and it was implemented thanks to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."
He noted thatthat his country continues to work with the United States, Arab, and European countries to consolidate the ceasefire, emphasizing that Britain's recognition of the State of Palestine contributed to advancing the political process. He indicated that Britain will continue to support the reconstruction of Gaza, the formation of a transitional administration there, and its participation in monitoring the ceasefire.
He added, "This is the most important opportunity we have had since the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. We stand behind this agreement because a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state is the only way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East."
He affirmed his country's support for achieving justice and accountability in the Middle East, considering them a prerequisite for lasting stability in the region.
The Sharm el-Sheikh summit was held on Monday evening, co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his US counterpart, Trump, at the Sharm el-Sheikh Conference Center, with the participation of leaders from more than 20 countries.
The Egyptian presidency stated that the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit emphasized the need to begin "consultations on the means and mechanisms for implementing the next stages" of the Trump plan.
The summit comes after the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect at 12:00 noon on Friday, Jerusalem time (09:00 GMT), after it was approved by the Israeli government at dawn on the same day.
On October 9, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of his ceasefire and prisoner exchange plan, following indirect negotiations between the two sides in Sharm el-Sheikh, with the participation of Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, and under US supervision.
