The Israeli government and Hamas reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement on Wednesday, following 15 months of war that left tens of thousands dead and caused incalculable destruction in the Gaza Strip, which has been plunged into humanitarian disaster and chaos.
Mediation and timeline
The agreement, the result of extremely bitter indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, was finalised just days before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
According to Qatari authorities, the ceasefire is set to take effect at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday.
Also read: The Gaza ceasefire agreement will come into effect on Sunday
Joe Biden’s reaction
Joe Biden expressed “joy” at the imminent release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US President, who will leave the White House on Monday, the day after the ceasefire begins in Gaza, stated in a press release that the agreement was the result of the “intensive efforts” of American diplomacy.
Donald Trump’s perspective
President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office next week, praised the “epic” agreement via Truth Social, stating that it could not have been reached without “our historic victory in November.” He also declared that he would not allow the Gaza Strip “to become a safe haven for terrorists again.”
Israeli leadership divided
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, commended the agreement, calling it the “right choice,” “significant,” and “necessary” to bring the hostages back to their homes. In a televised address, Herzog stated that there is “no greater moral, human, Jewish, or Israeli obligation” than this.
In contrast, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, condemned the agreement as “bad and dangerous for the security of the State of Israel,” asserting that his party’s ministers would vote against it. The agreement is expected to be ratified later today by the Israeli cabinet.
Details of the agreement
The “final details” of the agreement are still being “finalised,” according to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office shortly before midnight (local and Cyprus time).
Earlier, Netanyahu’s office noted that the Prime Minister had “thanked” Donald Trump and Joe Biden for their “assistance” in securing “the release of the hostages.”
Hamas declares victory
Hamas described the agreement as a “triumph” of the “brave resistance” and a result of the “resilience” of the Palestinian people. They added that the agreement paves the way for the “realisation of the aspirations of the Palestinian people for liberation.” Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas negotiator, stressed, “We will neither forget nor forgive” the suffering endured by the Palestinians.
Global reactions
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi commended the agreement, presenting it as the outcome of “over a year of relentless efforts and mediation” by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. He emphasised the critical importance of “accelerating the entry of urgently needed humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza,” a region mired in humanitarian disaster.
أرحب بالتوصل إلى اتفاق لوقف إطلاق النار في قطاع غزة بعد جهود مضنية على مدار أكثر من عام بوساطة مصرية قطرية أمريكية.
— Abdelfattah Elsisi (@AlsisiOfficial) January 15, 2025
ومع هذا الاتفاق، أؤكد على أهمية الإسراع في إدخال المساعدات الإنسانية العاجلة لأهل غزة، لمواجهة الوضع الإنساني الكارثي الراهن، وذلك دون أي عراقيل، لحين تحقق السلام…
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the agreement and urged the international community to act “immediately” to distribute humanitarian assistance to the small Palestinian enclave.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement in a post on X, calling on all parties to “fully implement it.” She noted that it brings “hope to an entire region where people have endured immense suffering for far too long.”
I warmly welcome the ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 15, 2025
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…
French President Emmanuel Macron underlined that the agreement must be “respected” and that it should lead to a “political solution.”
“After fifteen months of unjustified suffering, there is immense relief for the people of Gaza and hope for the hostages and their families. Tonight, my thoughts are with Ofer (Calderon) and Ohad (Yaalomi),” stated the French President on X, referring to the two French-Israeli hostages held by Hamas militants.
“The agreement must be upheld. Hostages must be freed. The people of Gaza must be rescued. A political solution must emerge,” he added.
Après quinze mois de calvaire injustifiable, soulagement immense pour les Gazaouis, espoir pour les otages et leurs familles. Ce soir, mes pensées vont à Ofer et Ohad.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 15, 2025
L'accord doit être respecté. Les otages, libérés. Les Gazaouis, secourus. Une solution politique doit advenir.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, also posting on X, remarked that the agreement “paves the way for a definitive end to the war and an improvement in the precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza,” urging its “strict implementation.”
Es ist gut, dass eine Einigung über einen Waffenstillstand und die Freilassung von Geiseln – auch deutschen – in Gaza erreicht scheint! Jetzt muss die Einigung konsequent umgesetzt werden. Alle Geiseln müssen freigelassen werden. 1/2
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) January 15, 2025
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as news that Israelis and Palestinians desperately awaited and noted it was”long overdue. He stressed that both have borne the heaviest price of this armed conflict triggered by Hamas’s barbaric terrorist attack, adding that the agreement should enable a “better, lasting future” based on “the two-state solution,” a stance rejected by the Netanyahu government.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called the agreement “excellent news” and “a significant step toward peace,” urging that it be “solidified” to “advance to the next stages.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also praised the agreement, calling it “crucial for achieving regional stability.” He described it as “an absolutely necessary step toward a two-state solution and genuine peace with respect for international law.” Sánchez further emphasised on X that it must “end the war, improve the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and ensure the release of all hostages.”
Recibo con esperanza el acuerdo de alto el fuego alcanzado entre Israel y Hamás. Debe poner fin al conflicto, permitir hacer frente a la terrible situación humanitaria en Gaza y la liberación de todos los rehenes.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 15, 2025
Este acuerdo es crucial para lograr la estabilidad regional.…
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed immense relief for the hostages, their families, and the population of Gaza after many months of conflict. Writing on X, he said he hopes this ceasefire will end hostilities and mark the beginning of lasting peace, and that Belgium is ready to assist.
After too many months of conflict, we feel tremendous relief for the hostages, for their families and for the people of Gaza.
— Alexander De Croo 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@alexanderdecroo) January 15, 2025
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.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the ceasefire announcement in Gaza, stating that Canada will support all efforts to ensure its implementation. He urged all parties to act immediately, stressing that all hostages must be released and that this violence and these horrific sufferings must end.
Trudeau later added during a press conference that critical humanitarian aid, including medicine, water, and food, must reach those in dire need in the Gaza Strip.
Canada welcomes the news of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and we will support every effort to see it implemented.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 15, 2025
We urge the parties to act immediately. All the hostages must be returned home. The horrific violence and suffering must end. The humanitarian catastrophe…
Humanitarian and international aid
The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) expressed its willingness to facilitate the release of hostages and prisoners and to “massively scale up” the aid it provides to the Gaza Strip. Mirjana Spoljaric, in a statement, emphasised that this nightmare has lasted far too long; the suffering must end, civilians in the Gaza Strip need protection and humanitarian aid; hostages must return home.
“While the agreement is welcome, it is not the end” stated Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP). She highlighted that “we have food waiting at Gaza’s borders — and we must be able to transport it inside on a large scale. For that, all border crossings need to open, and we must be able to distribute food safely to everyone in need across Gaza.” McCain also stressed the need for humanitarian workers to be protected and called for permission to allow more humanitarian personnel into Gaza. “We need more urgent funding to reach everyone in need,” she added.
📍Israel and the Occupied Territories | We, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), are ready to help implement the agreement reached by the parties and bring hostages and detainees home.
— ICRC (@ICRC) January 15, 2025
Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President, shares: https://t.co/O3yYiWvKaA pic.twitter.com/Qk3BlXQ5qq
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared via X, “Peace is the best medicine,” while also noting that “health needs in the Gaza Strip remain enormous.”
Peace is the best medicine!
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 15, 2025
The #Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal is welcome and encouraging. Too many lives have been lost and too many families have suffered. We hope all parties will respect the deal and work towards lasting peace.
Health needs in Gaza remain…
Photo source: Middle East eye
Source: ANA-MPA
