As the world reacts to the end of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, leaders express relief and hope
Leaders in the US and around the world praised the latest Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement on Wednesday.
Biden announced the ceasefire during a news conference Wednesday at the White House. It will have two phases and will take place over the next few weeks.
The first phase, scheduled to begin on Sunday, “includes a full and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all residential areas of Gaza, and the release of a number of people held hostage by Hamas, including women and the elderly and the wounded,” Biden said.
The second phase depends on Israel negotiating “necessary arrangements,” marking a complete end to the war.
BIDEN BALKS WHEN ASKED THAT TRUMP SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR ISRAEL-HAMAS Cease-Fire Agreement: ‘IS THAT A JOKE?’
The reaction to the deal was overwhelmingly positive. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was “very encouraged” to see the ceasefire come to fruition.
“This is something I have called for many months in the past year since the horrific attacks on innocent people in Israel that occurred on October 7 of last year,” said Hochul. “My priority is to bring hostages home.”
Attorney Ritchie Torres, DN.Y., wrote to X that he felt “an indescribable sense of relief,” about the return of the hostages.
“The return of the captives will mark the beginning of closure for Israelis and Jews, along with countless others, who continue to be deeply affected by the fear and unending sorrow of October 7,” Torres wrote. “The hostages were brought home by the strength of the strongest friendship in the world – the US-Israel relationship.”
The agreement also attracted international attention. In a statement, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer called the ceasefire “long overdue news.”
FOX NEWS GETS INSIDE THE IDF’S WAR WITH HAMS
“[The Israeli and Palestinian people] “They bear the brunt of this conflict – started by the brutal terrorists of Hamas, who carried out the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023,” said Starmer. A day and imprisoned in unimaginable conditions since then, they are now unable to return to their families.
“But we must also use this time to honor those who will never return home – including the British people killed by Hamas. We will continue to tell and remember them.”
In an X post translated from French to English, French President Emmanuel Macron said the ceasefire must be respected.
“After 15 months of unjustified hardship, great relief for the Gazans, hope for the hostages and their families,” Macron said. He also referred to Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Calderon, two French-Israeli hostages.
While many are celebrating, others have expressed concern that the deal may not come to fruition.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
On Wednesday, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said a “major hurdle” — including finalizing the deal — “has been overcome.”
Hopefully come this weekend, we’ll start to see some families reunited,” Kirby said, adding that he’s “confident” the deal will work, despite the hard work ahead.
Fox News Digital’s Joshua Comins contributed to this report.
Source link