Whether Israel’s sworn enemies or its staunch allies, the world welcomed the news of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas announced on Wednesday.
Israel’s foes treated the ceasefire as a victory against the Jewish state. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday hailed the “Palestinian resistance for showing fortitude and forcing the Zionist regime to retreat.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also praised the agreement.
“Today, the end to the war and the imposition of a ceasefire on the Zionist regime are a clear victory and a big triumph for Palestine and a greater defeat for the demoniacal Zionist regime,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
Hamas was jubilant over the agreement. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, in his first public remarks since green-lighting the truce deal, repeated the terrorist group’s commitment to the destruction of Israel on Wednesday night.
Al-Hayya described the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of some 1,200 people in Israel as a “miraculous” achievement, declaring the atrocities would “remain a source of pride” for Palestinians, “passed down through generations.”
The terrorist attack “struck the heart of the enemy and will lead, Inshallah [‘God willing’], to the restoration of all our rights,” the Hamas leader said.
South Africa, which filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice in the Hague on Oct. 29, 2023, accusing Israel of genocide, praised the ceasefire.
“The ceasefire must lay the basis for a just peace, which should include the establishment of a contiguous, independent and viable Palestinian state,” said South African government spokesman Vincent Magwenya.
Moscow greeted news of a agreement with “cautious optimism,” Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, “as the dire humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza continues to worsen. A ceasefire and truce are urgently needed for the residents who remain in Gaza, enduring unimaginable hardships.”
European countries also welcomed news of a cessation of hostilities.
“This is a major, positive breakthrough toward ending the violence,” stated Kaja Kallas, the E.U. high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. “It is now time to deliver this agreement for all hostages and their families, the people of Gaza and the people of the region.”
Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, paid tribute to “those who won’t make it home—including the British people who were murdered by Hamas.”
London and its allies “will continue to be at the forefront of these crucial efforts to break the cycle of violence and secure long-term peace in the Middle East,” he said.
The German Federal Foreign Office said that “in these hours, there is hope that the hostages will finally be released and that the deaths in Gaza will come to an end. All those who bear responsibility should now ensure that this opportunity is seized.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp welcomed the “positive news about a ceasefire in Gaza.”
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday, “This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity.”
President-elect Donald Trump said, “This epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, as it signaled to the entire world that my administration would seek peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies.”
Although Biden ridiculed the idea that Trump had helped with a ceasefire, Netanyahu thanked Trump in a Wednesday call for helping to forge the ceasefire-for-hostages-and-terrorists-release deal with Hamas.
Thirty-three hostages out of the 98 held by Hamas in Gaza are set to be released during the first phase of the deal, in exchange for 1,000 Gazan terrorists. This includes nine sick and injured captives who are to be exchanged for 110 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons, including those with blood on their hands.
Israeli forces are to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s Egyptian border. The withdrawal will begin on the 42nd day of the first phase, after the release of the final hostage for the phase, and is to be completed by the 50th day.
The Rafah Crossing to Egypt will be prepared for civilian and medical evacuations immediately after the agreement is signed.
However, Channel 12 News reported on Thursday that according to a “senior government source,” Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in the first stage, and the second stage will not proceed unless Hamas agrees to relinquish control of Gaza.
A last-minute crisis emerged on Thursday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announcing that “Hamas has reneged on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions.
“The Israeli Cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Hamas Political Bureau member Ezzat al-Rishq, quoted by Channel 12 News, said in response that “Hamas is committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators.”
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party signaled on Thursday it would likely exit Netanyahu’s coalition over the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.