Israel and Gaza reach ceasefire deal
16/1/2025 6:12
Negotiators reached a phased
ceasefire deal on Wednesday in the war in Gaza between Israel
and the militant group Hamas. Here is some reaction to the deal.
U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
"I can announce a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been
reached between Israel and Hamas," Biden said at the White
House.
"Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages return
home to their families."
"For the Palestinian people, a credible, credible pathway to a
state of their own. And for the region, a future of
normalization, integration of Israel and all its Arab neighbors,
including Saudi Arabia," he said.
U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP
"We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They
will be released shortly. Thank you!" he said in a post on his
Truth Social platform.
"With this deal in place, my National Security team, through
the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff,
will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make
sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven," Trump
said in a second post.
U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES
"The United Nations stands ready to support the
implementation of this deal and scale up the delivery of
sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who
continue to suffer," he told reporters.
"It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant
security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza
so that we can support a major increase in urgent lifesaving
humanitarian support."
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER HAKAN FIDAN
He told reporters in Ankara the ceasefire deal was an
important step for regional stability. Fidan also said Turkish
efforts for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict would continue.
QATAR'S PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN AL
THANI
The prime minister called for calm in the Gaza Strip between
now and Jan. 19 when the ceasefire deal takes effect.
EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI
He welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal, according to a post on
X, and stressed the importance of a fast delivery of
humanitarian aid to Gaza.
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS PRESIDENT MIRJANA
SPOLJARIC
“I hope this agreement marks a new beginning. Civilian lives
must be protected and their needs prioritised. The coming days
are critical and we are counting on the parties to hold to their
commitments. While the agreement is welcome, it is not the end."
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION
"I warmly welcome the ceasefire and hostage release
agreement in Gaza. Hostages will be reunited with their loved
ones and humanitarian aid can reach civilians in Gaza. This
brings hope to an entire region, where people have endured
immense suffering for far too long. Both parties must fully
implement this agreement, as a stepping stone toward lasting
stability in the region and a diplomatic resolution of the
conflict,” she said.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FOREIGN MINISTER SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN
ZAYED
He stressed "the importance that both Israel and Hamas
adhere to the commitments made to end the suffering of the
Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages."
He said unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid was
urgent.
QATARI EMIR SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL THANI
"We hope that the announcement of a ceasefire agreement
in Gaza will contribute to ending the aggression, destruction
and killing in the strip and the occupied Palestinian
territories, and to start a new phase in which this just cause
will not be marginalised."
SAUDI ARABIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY
It welcomed the deal and thanked the mediating
countries. It urged commitment "to the deal to end the Israeli
aggression on Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces
from the strip and all Palestinian and Arab lands... It also
affirms the importance of building on this deal to resolve the
basis of the conflict."
MOHAMMED ABDULSALAM, SPOKESPERSON FOR YEMEN'S HOUTHIS
"We salute Gaza's legendary and historic resilience in
the face of Israel's fiercest aggression against the oppressed
Palestinian people.... With its continued occupation of
Palestine, (Israel) represents a threat to the security and
stability of the region."
SOUTH AFRICA GOVERNMENT
"South Africa welcomes the ceasefire agreement reached
between Israel and Hamas after 15 months of Israel’s genocidal
onslaught on Gaza after Hamas and other armed groups launched an
attack on Israel. South Africa calls for the implementation of a
just and lasting peace that ensures the human rights of both
Palestinians and Israelis are protected and promoted."
ALEXANDER DE CROO, BELGIUM'S PRIME MINISTER
“After too many months of conflict, we feel tremendous
relief for the hostages, for their families and for the people
of Gaza. Let’s hope this ceasefire will put an end to the
fighting and mark the beginning of a sustained peace. Belgium
stands ready to help.”
GERMAN FOREIGN SECRETARY ANNALENA BAERBOCK
"In these hours there is hope that the hostages will finally
be released and the deaths in Gaza will come to an end. Everyone
who bears responsibility should now ensure that this opportunity
is seized."
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER
"After months of devastating bloodshed and countless lives
lost, this is the long-overdue news that the Israeli and
Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for," Starmer
said in an emailed statement.
"For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a
warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this
ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which
is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza.
"And then our attention must turn to how we secure a
permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people
- grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security
and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable
Palestine state."
NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER JONAS GAHR STOERE
"The Palestinian institutions must be strengthened and
prepared to assume full control and responsibility, including in
Gaza. Both Israel and Palestine must receive credible security
guarantees, and the solution must be anchored regionally."
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ
"I welcome with hope the ceasefire agreement reached between
Israel and Hamas. It must bring an end to the conflict, allow
the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza to be addressed and the
release of all hostages," he said on X.
"This agreement is crucial to achieving regional stability. It
represents an indispensable step on the road to a two-state
solution and a just peace that respects international law."
ITALY PM GIORGIA MELONI'S OFFICE
"The ceasefire provides an important opportunity to
substantially increase humanitarian assistance to the civilian
population of Gaza," it said in a statement.
"Italy is ready to play its part, together with its European
and international partners, for the stabilisation and
reconstruction of Gaza and to permanently consolidate the
cessation of hostilities, also with a view to relaunching a
political process towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle
East, based on the two-state solution, with Israel and a State
of Palestine living side by side in peace and security, within
mutually recognised borders."
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