High-ranking European Union (EU) officials welcomed the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and called on both sides to fully implement the agreement.
“This brings hope to the entire region, where people have endured enormous suffering for too long,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on her X account, Xinhua news agency reported.
“As a step towards lasting stability in the region and diplomatic resolution of the conflict, both sides should fully implement this agreement,” he said.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also spoke on the issue, saying, “This is a huge, positive breakthrough towards ending violence.”
Qatar announced Wednesday evening that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal for hostages in Gaza. According to the agreement, Hamas will release 33 hostages over a six-week period in the first phase in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Implementation of the agreement will begin on Sunday, January 19. Details of the second and third phases will be announced after the completion of the first phase of the agreement.
The US and mediator Qatar have said Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal that could halt the fighting in Gaza and lead to the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
It would be the most dramatic breakthrough in the 15-month war, which began when the armed Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were still several unresolved sections, which he expected to be finalized on Wednesday evening.
A full agreement would end the war in Gaza and lead to an exchange of hostages and prisoners.
Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 and captured 251 hostages. He still holds 94 people captive, although Israel believes only 60 survive.
Israel is expected to release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages, some of whom have been jailed for years.
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