The four-day truce agreement was announced on Wednesday and the starting time is expected to be confirmed in the next 24 hours.
The Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli government have agreed to a four-day truce that will see the release of 50 women and children held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.
The deal was announced on Wednesday and the starting time is expected to be confirmed in the next 24 hours, according to a statement from Qatar, which mediated the agreement.
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICE: More than 200 Palestinians were killed in 24 hours.
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Here are some reactions to the announcement of the truce:
Russia
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia welcomes the humanitarian truce agreement.
“Moscow welcomes the agreement between Israel and Hamas on a four-day humanitarian truce,” Zakharova said, according to Russian state agencies.
“This is what Russia has called for since the beginning of the escalation,” she reportedly added.
Belgium
“We welcome the agreement that will liberate women and children, and it must be followed by other steps in compliance with international law,” the Belgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that the truce must ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the population in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Iran
Iran announced that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will begin a regional tour, starting in Lebanon, following the ceasefire announcement.
“The visit is in line with Iran’s diplomatic efforts to halt the Zionist regime’s attacks on Gaza, lift the blockade, and send humanitarian aid to the oppressed people of Gaza,” Iranian Nournews agency reported.
The next few hours are crucial to the success of the ceasefire. News reports speak of intense Israeli bombardment of various residential targets in central Gaza. Many bodies are also being pulled from the rubble of destroyed homes.https://t.co/aoNLznDjzG pic.twitter.com/kNDSa2xBff
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) November 22, 2023
European Union
The European Union Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen, said that the Commission will make efforts to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip during the truce.
“The European Commission will do its utmost to use this pause for a humanitarian surge to Gaza,” she said in a statement.
France
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna praised Qatar’s efforts to release prisoners in Gaza, and indicated that Paris hopes to release eight of its citizens, believed to be detained in Gaza.
Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi announced that he welcomed the success of the Egyptian-Qatari-US mediation in reaching an agreement to implement a humanitarian truce in Gaza.
The Egyptian President affirmed his country’s continued efforts to reach permanent solutions to achieve justice and guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Jordan
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the humanitarian truce agreement in the Gaza Strip, praising the efforts made by Qatar, in partnership with Egypt and the United States.
Jordanian ministry’s official spokesman, Ambassador Sufyan Al-Qudah, said that this must be a first step leading to a permanent end to the war.
UK
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron welcomed the agreement, describing it as an important step.
“This agreement is a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” Cameron said. “I urge all parties to ensure the agreement is delivered in full.”
AL-JAZEERA (CITING MEDICAL SOURCE): 41 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids on inhabited homes in the central Gaza Strip last night.
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— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) November 22, 2023
United States
The US President said he was deeply relieved after the truce deal was brokered between Israel and Hamas.
“I am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls… will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
China
The Chinese Foreign Ministry welcomed the temporary truce, and Beijing hopes it will help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Beijing hopes “that it will help ease the plight of the humanitarian crisis, de-escalate the conflict and ease tensions”, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.
“Since the outbreak of the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has always called for a ceasefire and made unremitting efforts to cool down the situation, protect civilians and carry out humanitarian assistance,” Mao added.
(The Palestine Chronicle)
