Palestinian, Arab, & International welcome for ceasefire agreement in Gaza announcement
Palestinian, Arab, and international reactions have continued to welcome the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, declared on Thursday, 734 days after the start of the brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The aggression has resulted in the martyrdom of more than 67,000 Palestinians and the injury of about 170,000 others, in addition to the destruction of 90 percent of the infrastructure in the besieged enclave. Meanwhile, hunger, thirst, and malnutrition continue to claim the lives of many residents amid a genocidal war in which the Israeli enemy has, over two years, used every method prohibited under international law.
Most reactions welcomed the announcement of the agreement, calling for its swift implementation and guarantees that Israel would not violate or manipulate its terms, as it has often done in the past.
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine said that “the achievement of the ceasefire and prisoner-exchange agreement with the Zionist enemy was not a gift from anyone.”
In a statement, the movement added: “While we do not deny the Arab and international efforts, we affirm the enormous sacrifices made by our Palestinian people , the courage and heroism of its fighters on the battlefield, who faced the enemy forces with unprecedented bravery. Without this steadfastness, the resistance would not have been able to stand as an equal and strong side at the negotiation table.”
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) considered the ceasefire agreement “a first step toward ending the genocide, as the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their valiant resistance broke the Zionist war machine and imposed the agreement.”
In a press statement, the Front said: “Reaching a ceasefire agreement and beginning the implementation of its first phase is a significant achievement and a first step on a long road to ending our people’s suffering. The time has come for the genocide to stop.”
Unified Factional Position
The Palestinian Resistance Committees said that the agreement, reached through the efforts of Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators to stop the Zionist aggression, massacre, and genocide in the Gaza Strip, came as a result of Gaza’s legendary steadfastness and the great sacrifices of its resilient people after two years of war.
The committees added that “the unified stance of the resistance factions and their refusal to submit to the logic of genocide or surrender thwarted all of the Zionist enemy’s schemes.”
The Palestinian Al-Ahrar Movement emphasized the importance of ensuring that war criminal and International Criminal Court fugitive Benjamin Netanyahu and his fascist government do not resume their aggression on Gaza or renounce the agreement after receiving their prisoners, as they have done in the past.
The movement stated: “The heroic battle waged by the Palestinian negotiator, marked by full responsibility and the resistance’s genuine concern for our people, their lives, resources, and dignity, was no less fierce than the battles fought on the ground against the Zionist army. By God’s grace, it culminated in a clear victory and the end of the genocidal war against our people.”
Flow of Humanitarian Aid
Arably, the Sultanate of Oman expressed its welcome for the agreement on the terms and mechanisms of implementing the first phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, affirming that this agreement will contribute to ending the war, releasing prisoners and detainees on both sides, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed, in a post on the “X” platform, the importance of continuing regional and international efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and creating conditions conducive to reaching a just and comprehensive political solution that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and achieves security and stability in the region.
Meanwhile, the Grand Mufti of Oman, Sheikh Ahmad bin Hamad Al-Khalili, congratulated all the heroes of the Islamic resistance in Gaza, Palestine, Yemen, and the Levant on their great victory over the Zionist entity.
In a post on “X,” he said: “We first congratulate ourselves, and then all the heroes of the Islamic resistance in Gaza and the land of Palestine, in our dear Yemen, and in the Levant and elsewhere, on this great victory of truth over falsehood and the retreat of the enemy, who has now openly admitted its failure to occupy Gaza — something it had long desired.”
Sheikh Al-Khalili continued: “Indeed, it is both a military and political victory for the people of truth, for the enemy’s reputation has collapsed and it has suffered defeat. The entire world has now witnessed its crimes and injustices, and global sympathy has turned toward the Palestinian cause.”
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the agreement reached in Sharm El-Sheikh, describing it as a “turning point” in the Gaza war.
Warning Against Israeli Deception
Iran, for its part, announced through a statement by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs its support for the Gaza ceasefire plan.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that Tehran has consistently supported any action or initiative aimed at halting the genocide.
The statement added: “In line with its support for the legitimate resistance of the Palestinian people in their pursuit of the right to self-determination, the Islamic Republic of Iran has devoted all its diplomatic capabilities over the past two years—especially at the regional level, within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and at the United Nations—to pressure the Zionist entity and its backers to stop the genocide and withdraw the occupiers from Gaza.”
It further noted that while honoring the memory of the great martyrs of the resistance, Iran reaffirms the international community’s responsibility to prevent the Zionist entity from violating its charter, and calls on all parties to remain vigilant and cautious against Israeli deception and breaches of its commitments.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his satisfaction that the negotiations — “with Turkey’s contribution” — resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza.
International Welcoming
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement of the Gaza agreement, saying: “All hostages must be released with dignity. A permanent ceasefire must be secured and the fighting must end completely. Unhindered, immediate access must be guaranteed for humanitarian and essential commercial supplies into Gaza to end the suffering.”
Montserrat Carreras, Amnesty International’s representative to the European Union, stated that sanctions against “Israel” are the only effective means to change the course of events in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Thursday, Carreras stressed that “it is time for concrete action, not just condemnation or political statements.”
She added that the international community has long delayed taking a firm stance against “Israel,” which has committed acts of genocide against the Palestinian people over the past two years.
UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, called for ensuring the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and dismantling Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid regime in Palestine.
In a post on “X,” Albanese wrote: “While we welcome the ceasefire agreement, let us ensure that it is respected,” noting that the Israeli entity had failed to honor the previous agreement.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that the ceasefire agreement and the release of prisoners in Gaza bring great relief.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) affirmed that the ceasefire in Gaza was long overdue and that it is now time to deliver large-scale humanitarian aid to reach all families suffering catastrophic conditions.
George Moura da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), also welcomed the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
He said, “We welcome the ceasefire agreement and the release of all prisoners in Gaza,” confirming that UNOPS stands ready to help facilitate the immediate scale-up of emergency assistance across Gaza.
On the European level, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the agreement on the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire as “an important step, a major diplomatic achievement, and a genuine opportunity to end a devastating war.”
Russia, through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, also expressed its support for the agreement between “Israel” and Hamas regarding the first phase aimed at ending the aggression in Gaza.
China, for its part, expressed hope for the achievement of a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, and affirmed its readiness to work with the international community to reach a just solution to the Palestinian issue.
Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated on Thursday that continued U.S. support for “Israel” under the Trump administration would have led to an endless extension of the humanitarian crisis and genocide in Gaza.
In a post on X, monitored by the Yemeni News Agency (SABA), Petro said that “international pressure and the mediations led by Qatar and Egypt, along with the firm stances of South Africa, Colombia, and several other countries, as well as the distancing of much of Europe from the U.S. government’s approach, have contributed to weakening the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu, temporarily and partially.”
The Colombian president affirmed that his proposal to establish an army to liberate Palestine remains valid, but clarified that its role would now be limited to reconstruction tasks in cooperation with the Palestinians.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stressed the need to do everything possible to implement the agreement in Gaza, calling on the Netanyahu government to end the genocide against Palestinians and to take concrete steps toward a final peace, which he said is conditional upon the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib expressed Belgium’s welcome of the agreement, describing it as a decisive step toward a ceasefire, particularly for ending the blockade and securing the release of prisoners.
With U.S. and European support, the Israeli occupation army has, since October 7, 2023, continued committing acts of genocide, siege, and starvation in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the martyrdom of 67,194 Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom are children and women, and the injury of 169,890 others to date — in a non-final toll, as thousands of victims remain trapped under the rubble and on the roads, where rescue and ambulance crews are unable to reach them.