Intelligence chiefs warn of threats from Russia and Hamas – DW – 10/13/2025

Due to the current situation in the Middle East, our German blog is currently on hiatus.

Read below about the Bundestag’s annual intelligence update, a major fire in Berlin and Chancellor Merz’s trip to Egypt.

German Chancellor Frédéric Merz arrived in Egypt on Monday, one of several world leaders present for the official signing of the ceasefire agreementand a summit on the future of Gaza.

“From this place comes the signal that if the global community unites, it is possible” to achieve peace, he said.

He then called on Donald Trump to use the momentum gained in Sharm el-Sheikh to pressure Moscow to end the deal. the war in Ukraine.

“We also hope that the American president will now use the influence he has had on the parties involved in the (Middle East) to work with us on the Russian government,” Merz said.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Middle East that he would consider arming Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles that would enable deeper strikes into Russia, but added that he might first talk about it with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war.

The heads of Germany’s two main intelligence services made their annual public statements to the Bundestag on Monday, saying the threats posed by Russia and the Palestinian militant group Hamas should not be underestimated.

Sinan Selen, the head of the BfV, the country’s national spy agency, said a recent peace deal for Gaza did not mean there was a “reason to give the green light when it comes to Hamas and its activities in Europe and Germany.”

Selen said Hamas had an “infrastructure” in Germany and that his office estimated that around 32,500 people living in the country could be classified as foreign extremists. This is an increase of 6% compared to the previous year.

Martin Jäger, head of the foreign intelligence service, the BND, said the current “frozen peace” between Europe and Russia could turn into a “burning confrontation” at any time.

To achieve its goal of broader political influence in Europe, “Russia will not hesitate to directly confront NATO militarily if necessary,” Jäger said, adding that extensive propaganda efforts were already underway.

Is Europe ready for hybrid warfare? — To the point

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has left Berlin for Egypt, as world leaders gather to witness the official signing of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas for Gaza.

Merz will be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Donald Trump and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, among others.

The chancellor hailed the truce as “good news for the people of the Middle East” and around the world, pledging 29 million euros ($33.6 million) in aid and that Germany would participate in a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza to be held soon in Egypt.

Meanwhile, German-Israeli twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman were reunited for the first time in two years and are among the last hostages held by Hamas to be freed.

At least 46 people were injured after a fire broke out in a large social housing building in Berlin, firefighters said. Fifteen people were transported to local hospitals.

They said the fire broke out after a suspected explosion, but no further details were immediately available.

The fire started on the ground floor and quickly spread before emergency services were able to completely extinguish it, allowing residents on the second and upper floors to return to their homes after an evacuation.

The High Deck housing estate is home to around 6,000 people in a series of 6-storey buildings in the capital’s Neukölln district.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Good day from the DW editorial office in Bonn.

Today we’ll cover a major public intelligence meeting, Berlin’s reactions to developments in Gaza and any other major news in Germany.

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