“It doesn’t always have to be done directly, but of course Hamas must be involved. Because without Hamas there will be no ceasefire,” Merkel said during a television interview in Germany.

“There must of course be indirect contacts with Hamas,” Merkel said in response to the question whether she backed negotiating with a terrorist organization. Merkel pointed out that Egypt and other Arab states talked to Hamas.

Merkel stressed Israel’s right to self-defence: “And we stand by that,” she said.

Nevertheless, the German government aimed to contribute to a long-term diplomatic solution to the situation. “This has unfortunately not been created over decades. But that does not mean that one should not continue to work for it,” she said.

The chancellor also repeated her condemnation of anti-Semitic disturbances on the streets of Germany, saying a distinction had to be made between this and the issue of criticizing the policies of the state of Israel.