In a surprising turn of events in the ongoing Hamas-Israel war mediators, Qatar has announced that they have reached a ceasefire deal to halt the war in Gaza in exchange for 33 Israeli captives, officials said.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced the agreement in Doha on Wednesday. The ceasefire deal is likely to take effect on Sunday, January 19.
At least 46,709 people in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Israel launched a devastating counter-assault on Hamas in response to their October 7 attack that killed around 1,139 people, according to Israeli stats and approximately 250 others were taken as captives.
More reactions are pouring from the international community as the ceasefire deal was announced by the prime minister of Qatar.
Here is how world leaders react to the development.
In a post on X, El-Sisi welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal and stressed the importance of the fast delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Ghalibaf, said in a post on X that “the courageous Palestinian resistance” had prevented the “Zionist entity” from achieving its “strategic goals.”
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry urged commitment “to end the Israeli aggression on Gaza” and “the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip and all Palestinian and Arab lands.”
United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Bin Zayed noted “the importance that both Israel and Hamas adhere to the commitments made to end the suffering of the Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for the “immediate and full implementation” of the ceasefire deal, expressing hope that it would lead to a permanent end to hostilities. “Israel’s expansionist designs have destabilised the entire region,” it said.
Spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthis Mohammed Abdulsalam said, “We salute Gaza’s legendary and historic resilience in the face of Israel’s fiercest aggression against the oppressed Palestinian people.”
Meanwhile, South Africa called for “a just and lasting peace that ensures the human rights of both Palestinians and Israelis are protected and promoted” after “15 months of Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza.”
EU president Von der Leyen “warmly” welcomed news of the ceasefire agreement. She said that “hostages will be reunited with their loved ones and humanitarian aid can reach civilians in Gaza.
Belgium’s prime minister, De Croo, said that “we feel tremendous relief for the hostages” after many months of conflict. “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,” he said.
German Foreign Secretary Annalena Baerbock said that “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.”
Britain’s 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.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, “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.”
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere insisted on the need to strengthen Palestinian institutions to “assume full control and responsibility, including in Gaza.”
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he hoped the deal would “mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Israeli and Palestinian people,” allowing the latter “the opportunity to rebuild” and “reform their governance, which is most necessary and pursue self-determination.”
Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said, “While the agreement is welcome, it is not the end,” said Spoljaric. “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.
Earlier, outgoing US president Joe Biden said, “Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages will return home to their families,” President Biden said at the White House.
He said the deal would bring Palestinians a “credible pathway to a state of their own,” harking to “a future of normalisation” for the region, with the “integration of Israel and all its Arab neighbours, including Saudi Arabia.”
Meanwhile, incoming US President-elect Donald Trump said, “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Subsequently, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that the UN was ready to back the deal and “scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer.”
Furthermore, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters in Ankara the ceasefire deal was an important step for regional stability.
