The agreement negotiated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar is due to come into force on Sunday. It provides for the exchange of 33 hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Reactions are pouring in from around the world following the announcement by the United States and Qatar of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The first phase of this agreement, which is due to come into force on Sunday, provides 42 days of peace, the exchange of 33 hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza.
Israel-Hamas
In a statement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu specifies that final details are still being worked out and expressed hope that the deal will be finalized by Thursday morning.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised Benjamin Netanyahu and his negotiating team for their efforts to reach an agreement.
“I support the Prime Minister and the negotiating team in their efforts to reach an agreement and I call on the members of the cabinet and government of Israel to accept and approve the agreement presented to them, and to bring our daughters and sons at home”he declares.
Hamas also issued a statement following the announcement of the agreement, saying that the group “will not forgive” to Israel for the suffering it caused to Gaza and its people during the war.
“In the name of all the victims, of every drop of blood shed and of every tear of pain and oppression, we say: we will not forget and we will not forgive”says Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator.
UNITED STATES
The outgoing American president Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both welcomed news of the deal, each claiming credit.
Joe Biden says the agreement was reached after months of intensive work under his administration, but that it will largely be implemented by Donald Trump’s new cabinet.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, took to his own social network, Truth Social, to praise the new deal.
“This epic ceasefire agreement could only come about following our historic victory in November, because it showed the world that my administration would pursue peace and negotiate deals to ensure security of all Americans and our allies I am delighted that the American and Israeli hostages are returning home to their families and loved ones.he declares.
Qatar
Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomed the announcement of the agreement.
“We hope that the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza will contribute to putting an end to the aggression, destruction and slaughter in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories”he declares in a message published on X.
The Qatari leader believes that everything must be done to resolve the decades-long conflict in a just manner, in accordance with international law.
He emphasizes that his country’s diplomatic role as mediator in this agreement stems from humanitarian obligations and duties, not a political rolewhile welcoming the efforts of other Egyptian and American mediators.
ADVERTISEMENTEgypt
The Egyptian President Abdelfattah El-Sisi also expressed his relief following the announcement of the ceasefire, negotiated in part by his country.
“With this agreement, I emphasize the importance of accelerating the entry of urgent aid for the people of Gaza, in order to face the current catastrophic humanitarian situation, without any obstacles, until a peace sustainable is achieved through the two-state solution”declares the Egyptian leader in a message published on X.
He also pledged his country’s continued support, saying: “Egypt will always remain faithful to its commitment, a supporter of a just peace, a loyal partner in its realization and a defender of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”.
United Nations
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also welcomed the ceasefire agreement.
ADVERTISEMENT“I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages in Gaza. I commend the mediators – Egypt, Qatar and the United States – for their efforts have deployed in order to reach this agreement”he declares on X.
The UN chief also urged all parties concerned to ensure that the agreement is fully implemented and to respect their commitments.
He also hopes that this agreement will be an opportunity for all parties concerned “to establish a credible political path towards a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the entire region”once again calling for the establishment of a two-state solution “within the framework of international law”.
European Union
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also greeted “warmly welcomes the ceasefire agreement and release of hostages in Gaza”on X.
ADVERTISEMENT“The hostages will be reunited with their loved ones and humanitarian aid will be able to reach civilians in Gaza. This brings hope to an entire region, where the population has endured immense suffering for far too long.”she adds.
Ursula von der Leyen urges Israel and Hamas to respect this agreement and implement it fully and without failexpressing the hope that it could serve as “stepping stone towards lasting stability in the region”.
Germany
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in the midst of campaigning for the federal elections, also visited urge Israel and Hamas to ensure the implementation of the agreement and its conditions “to the letter”.
“The ceasefire paves the way for a definitive end to the war and an improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza”adds Olaf Scholz, specifying that Germany will continue to “work towards realization” of this objective.
ADVERTISEMENTUnited Kingdom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement shortly after Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani announced the deal. saluting “news long awaited by the Israeli and Palestinian people”.
“The hostages who were brutally taken from their homes that day (October 7, 2023) and held captive in unimaginable conditions can finally be reunited with their families. But we should also take this moment to pay tribute to those who will not return home”says Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister also expressed his sympathy for the Palestinians “whose homes turned into war zones overnight” and called for a “significant increase in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza”.
International humanitarian organizations
The war in Gaza has caused one of the largest humanitarian disasters in the world.
ADVERTISEMENTThe United Nations and organizations such as Oxfam and Amnesty International have long criticized Israel for its conduct of the war and accused it of causing a humanitarian crisis.
The UN says thatapproximately 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents have been displaced and more than a million people in the Gaza Strip are at risk of starvation and dependent on food aidwhich is sometimes not guaranteed.
Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, says the organization “welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire, the initial agreement on the release of Israeli hostages and some Palestinian detainees, as well as the temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after 15 months of a relentless war”.
“Israel has inflicted terrible collective punishment on the Palestinians in Gaza, including crimes against humanity – using food and water as weapons of war, forcibly displacing almost the entire population, besieging the northern Gaza and making Gaza virtually unlivable.”she continues.
ADVERTISEMENTAmnesty International also commented on the new agreement on Gaza, stating that“it brings a glimmer of relief to the Palestinian victims of the Israeli genocide”. “But this agreement is long overdue”estimates the NGO.
The organization says 15 months of relentless Israeli bombing has reduced entire communities and residences to rubble, and that simply ceasing the shooting will not end their nightmare.
The humanitarian group also believes that Until the root causes of the conflict are addressed, Palestinians and Israelis “will not be able to hope for a better future based on rights, equality and justice”.
