German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday he opposed an "immediate" ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, amid calls to halt the fighting, AFP reported.
"I don't think the calls for an immediate ceasefire or long pause -- which would amount to the same thing -- are right," Scholz was quoted as having said in a debate organized by the German regional daily Heilbronner Stimme.
"That would mean ultimately that Israel leaves Hamas the possibility of recovering and obtaining new missiles," the Chancellor added, calling instead for "humanitarian pauses".
Scholz's stance comes after French President Emmanuel Macron caused an uproar over the weekend when he said, during an interview with the BBC, that there was "no justification" for the bombing of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
"De facto - today, civilians are bombed - de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do urge Israel to stop," said the French President, though he also said it was not his role to judge whether international law had been broken.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the French President's comments in a press conference with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz on Saturday night, saying that Macron "made a grave error" and adding, "We don't need these moral lectures."
A French political official later rejected Netanyahu's criticism, clarifying that Macron "has not changed his position" on Israeli action against Hamas but believes that Israel can and should do more to prevent harm to Palestinian Arab civilians in Gaza.
On Sunday, Macron called President Isaac Herzog to clarify the comments, telling Herzog that he does not and did not intend to accuse Israel of intentionally harming innocent civilians in the campaign against Hamas.
Macron also emphasized that he unequivocally supports Israel's right and duty to self-defense and expressed his support for Israel's war against Hamas.
Scholz visited Israel in the early days of the war, meeting with Netanyahu and with Herzog.
The Chancellor also felt firsthand what Israelis are going through, when a rocket barrage was launched at Tel Aviv and central Israel as he was preparing to depart from Ben Gurion Airport, prompting the evacuation of the Chancellor's plane.