Germany's Scholz warns Netanyahu against spiral of violence

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday expressed concern about the danger of a regional war in the Middle East during a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a government spokesman said in Berlin.

The conversation came one day after an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza reportedly killed dozens of civilians, with the German Foreign Office later calling the attack "unacceptable" and calling for a ceasefire.

Scholz told Netanyahu that the German government strongly condemns threats from Iran, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and others against the security of Israel and its citizens, spokesman Wolfgang Büchner said.

The chancellor stressed the need to "break the destructive spiral of retaliatory violence, reduce tensions and work constructively for de-escalation," the spokesman said.

Scholz also reiterated that the time has come to finalize an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by militants in the Palestinian territory.

He said that "many military goals" in the fight against Hamas have been achieved, but the human suffering in the Gaza Strip continues and is "enormous."

Concerns about a conflagration in the Middle East have grown. Iran and its allied militias have announced they are planning retaliatory strikes against Israel following the killing of two leading figures from Hamas and Hezbollah.

German Foreign Office denounces Israeli strike

Later on Sunday, the German Foreign Office again called for a ceasefire in Gaza, after denouncing Israel's strike on the school in Gaza City which sparked international condemnation.

"The reports from Gaza are terrible. The killing of civilians seeking protection is unacceptable. The repeated attacks on schools by the Israeli army must stop and be investigated quickly," the ministry wrote on the social media platform X.

"The entire region urgently needs the humanitarian ceasefire proposed by the US, Egypt and Qatar and the release of the hostages. This opportunity to alleviate the suffering must now be seized as a matter of urgency," the ministry added.

It also criticized Hamas for using civilians as human shields.

The Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza said at least 93 people were killed in Saturday's strike in Gaza City, which Israel said targeted Hamas commanders.