Global Leaders React To Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal

World leaders on Thursday hailed the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement between Israel and Hamas, expressing hope that it could pave the way toward ending the two-year war in Gaza.

Palestinian Authority
President Mahmud Abbas said he hoped the deal “would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution,” ultimately leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

United Nations
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the full release of hostages “in a dignified manner” and called for a lasting ceasefire.
“The fighting must stop once and for all,” he said, emphasizing the need for immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the development as a “big step towards lasting peace,” adding that the WHO stood ready to expand its operations to address Gaza’s dire health crisis and help rebuild its devastated health system. “The best medicine is peace,” he said.

Egypt
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose country hosted the indirect talks in Sharm El-Sheikh, hailed the announcement as a “historic moment.”
“This agreement does not only close the chapter of war,” he said. “It also opens the door of hope for the peoples of the region for a future defined by justice and stability.”

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh said it hoped the deal would “lead to urgent action to alleviate humanitarian suffering, achieve a full Israeli withdrawal, restore security and stability, and initiate practical steps toward a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.”

Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised US President Donald Trump for showing “the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire.”

European Union
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Antonio Costa commended the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, calling the deal a key opportunity for lasting peace.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described it as “a significant breakthrough.”

In Europe, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, called the news “extraordinary,” while French President Emmanuel Macron said he hoped it would pave the way for a “political solution.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the developments were “encouraging” and expressed confidence that progress could be made within the week.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged support for Gaza’s civilian population so that “the atrocities experienced… never be repeated.”
Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris said the deal, “if grasped by all, can finally end the unconscionable human suffering,” adding that it could “stop the dreadful bombing, silence the guns, end the famine and genocide, and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

United Kingdom
Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the “tireless” diplomatic efforts of mediators and called the agreement a “crucial first step.”
“This deal must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he said.

Russia
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the agreement, telling RIA Novosti: “We hope that signatures will be signed today, and that actions to implement the agreements will follow.”

China
Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing hoped for a “permanent and comprehensive” ceasefire as soon as possible, adding: “China advocates adhering to the principle that ‘Palestinians should govern Palestine.’”