The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages between the Palestinian militant movement Hamas and Israel. At the same time, both sides called for “full implementation” of the agreement, reports TASR according to the AFP and Reuters agencies.
“Both sides must fully implement this agreement as a stepping stone to lasting stability in the region and a diplomatic solution to this conflict,” von der Leyen wrote in a post on the X platform.
According to the head of Italian diplomacy, Antonio Tajani, the agreement is “an important step towards peace”. At the same time, he emphasized that this is “great news”, while now “we need to consolidate this ceasefire, to move forward with new steps”.
The German Minister of Foreign Affairs called on all interested parties
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on all interested parties to “seize” the opportunity in front of them.
“In these hours there is hope that the hostages will finally be released and the dying in Gaza will end.” All those in positions of responsibility should now ensure that this opportunity is used,” Baerbock added on social networks.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in connection with the ceasefire agreement in Gaza that it is “long overdue” and, according to him, it is necessary to focus on humanitarian aid and ensuring a better long-term future in the region.
“After months of devastating bloodshed and the loss of countless lives, this news, which Israelis and Palestinians have been desperately waiting for, is long overdue,” Starmer said in an emailed statement. “For the innocent Palestinians whose homes were turned into a war zone overnight , and the number of those who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a large increase in humanitarian aid, which is desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire agreement and the release of the hostages in Gaza, stressing that “the priority now must be to alleviate the immense suffering this conflict has caused”.
“The United Nations stands ready to support the implementation of this agreement and to step up the provision of sustained humanitarian assistance to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer,” Guterres told reporters, according to Reuters.
The Egyptian President Abdal Fattah Sisi also welcomed the agreement. At the same time, on the X platform, he particularly emphasized the importance of the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
