Gaza ceasefire deal: How the world reacted

Governments and leaders around the world have reacted to US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire plan in Gaza.

Trump said in a post announcing the deal on the social media platform Truth Social that “ ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line.”

The first stage of the deal will entail a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, while Hamas is set to release 20 living captives in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, though the final list is still pending approval.

Speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump vowed that the deal will see “people getting along and Gaza will be rebuilt”, and that he was “very confident there’ll be peace in the Middle East”.

World leaders have applauded the news, with some expressing hope and trepidation that the deal will hold.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres applauded the announcement, but urged “all those concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement,” emphasising that "All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured.

"The fighting must stop once and for all. Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end," he added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated Guterres’s call for a permanent ceasefire, calling on “all parties” to “fully uphold the terms of the agreement”.

Gaza ceasefire: What we know about the first phase

Read More »

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the deal as a “profound relief” and praised the “tireless diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States, supported by our regional partners, in securing this crucial first step”.

He urged for the agreement to be “implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza”.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hailed the deal as marking a “historic moment”, proclaiming the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, where discussions were held as a “city of peace and the cradle of dialogue".

"This agreement does not only close the chapter of war; it also opens the door of hope for the peoples of the region for a future defined by justice and stability," he added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed “sincere gratitude” to Trump, who he commended for demonstrating  “the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire”, and to Qatar and Egypt “for their significant support in reaching the agreement”.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged in posts on X that the agreement “must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution”.

'A big day for Israel'

Meanwhile, as Israeli bombardment continues to pummel Gaza City, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on X that the agreement marked “a big day for Israel”, adding that he would convene his government to approve the agreement on Thursday and "bring the hostages home". 

Israel bombards Gaza City and Khan Younis after ceasefire deal announced

Read More »

Far right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a post on X he and his far-right Religious Zionism party would not vote in support of the deal, and vowed that Israel “will continue to strive with all its might for the true eradication of Hamas and the genuine disarmament of Gaza, so that it no longer poses a threat to Israel”.

Hamas commended Trump’s efforts and those of Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish mediators, calling on all parties to “compel the occupation government to fully implement its obligations under the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon”.

Palestine Authority leader President Mahmoud Abbas applauded the deal, saying he hoped that it would prompt a two-state solution.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it similarly expressed hope that the plan would see “initiation of practical steps to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders”.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the plan offered “a semblance of hope after months of unbearable suffering and devastation”.