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| Palestinians celebrate the news of the ceasefire deal. Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, January 15, 2025 | Photo: Reuters |
Finally the ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza. The world leaders have expressed relief and welcome. The main mediators in the 15-month-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas were the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. The ceasefire agreement will take effect next Sunday (January 19).
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani officially announced the ceasefire late Wednesday evening. US President Joe Biden later confirmed the ceasefire separately. The country's newly elected President Donald Trump has made several posts on social media about the ceasefire. The Israeli cabinet is scheduled to meet on Thursday to approve the ceasefire agreement.
According to the Middle East Eye report, an initial six-week ceasefire will begin on Sunday. In some states, various conditions will be implemented. Such as the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from northern Gaza, the release of hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, the release of thousands of Palestinians from Israeli prisons, an urgent increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and permission to cross the Philadelphia Corridor on the Egyptian border for treatment of the wounded in Gaza, etc.
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| People of Lebanese and Palestinian descent celebrate the news of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Berlin, Germany, January 15, 2025 | Photo: Reuters |
After the initial 6-week or 42-day ceasefire, it will be transformed into a permanent ceasefire.
The ceasefire announcement was met with jubilation in Gaza yesterday evening. Relatives of hostage families in Israel were also seen expressing their joy. Let's take a look at the initial reactions of world leaders to the ceasefire announcement.
Joe Biden
According to a BBC report, confirming the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement, Joe Biden said in a statement, "This agreement will end the fighting in Gaza, increase urgent humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months of captivity."
Biden also said, "I presented the specific outline of this plan (to the UN Security Council) on May 31, 2024. After the presentation, it was unanimously approved by the UN Security Council."
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| Joe Biden, with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken behind him (left), talks about the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. At the White House, January 15, 2025 | Photo: Reuters |
Joe Biden said, "This ceasefire is not only the result of the enormous pressure that Hamas was under and the regional equation that changed after the ceasefire in Lebanon and the weakening of Iran; it is also the result of America's strong and difficult diplomacy. My diplomacy has never stopped in their (diplomats') efforts to accomplish this."
Donald Trump
The most vocal world leader so far on the ceasefire agreement has been US President-elect Donald Trump, who has made several posts on the subject on his social media platform, Truth Social.
In the first post, Trump wrote, "We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released very soon. Thank you everyone!"
"With this agreement in place, my national security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to ensure that Gaza never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists," Trump wrote in a second post.
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| Palestinians listen to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani announce a ceasefire agreement in a tent in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on January 15, 2025 | Photo: AFP |
Prime Minister of Qatar
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani officially announced the ceasefire in Doha yesterday evening after a final meeting with the relevant parties. He called on everyone in the Gaza Strip to remain calm from now until January 19, when the ceasefire will take effect.
President of Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the ceasefire agreement in Gaza in a post on social media. He stressed the importance of quickly delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
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| Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi | Photo: Reuters |
Secretary-General of the United Nations
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that the UN was ready to support the agreement and scale up the delivery of sustainable humanitarian relief for the countless Palestinians who are still suffering.
Turkish Foreign Minister
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters in Ankara that the ceasefire agreement was an important step for regional stability. Turkey's efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue.
President of the European Commission
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the news of the ceasefire agreement "warmly". She said: "Hostages will be reunited with their loved ones and humanitarian aid will reach civilians in Gaza.
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| Ursula von der Leyen | Photo: Reuters |
It (the ceasefire) brings hope to an entire region where people have endured immense suffering for too long. Both sides must fully implement this agreement, which will contribute to lasting stability in the region and a diplomatic solution to the conflict."
German Foreign Minister
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, "At this moment, it is hoped that the hostages will finally be released and the loss of life in Gaza will stop."
British Prime Minister
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement, "After months of horrific bloodshed and countless lives lost, the long-delayed news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have been desperately waiting for has finally arrived."
Prime Minister of Belgium
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Kru said, "After a long conflict, we feel very relieved about the hostages. Hopefully, this ceasefire will end the fighting and usher in a sustainable peace. Belgium stands ready to help."
Prime Minister of Norway
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stojer has stressed the need to strengthen Palestinian institutions to "take full control and responsibility for (the entire Palestinian territory), including Gaza." He said, "Both Israel and Palestine must receive credible security guarantees and this solution must be determined regionally."