Grneva: The United Nations expressed its approval on Wednesday for the agreement between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by Qatar with support from Egypt and the United States, to release hostages and temporarily halt the intense fighting and bombardment in Gaza.

However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that while this is a positive step, much more work remains to be done, according to a statement from his spokesman.

Globally, nations welcomed the announcement of the deal, which aims to address the crisis in Gaza that resulted from the Hamas-led October 7 attack, where approximately 1,200 people in Israel, primarily civilians, were killed, and around 240 individuals, spanning from infants to the elderly, were taken captive.

Key reactions to the agreement include:

'Extraordinarily Gratified':

US President Joe Biden expressed gratitude to the leaders of Qatar and Egypt for their "critical leadership" in achieving the deal. He highlighted his satisfaction that the hostages, described as "brave souls," will soon be reunited with their families once the agreement is fully implemented.
 

'Crucial Step':

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron described the deal as a "crucial step" towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
 

'Vital Aid':

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that the "breakthrough" agreement should be utilized to bring essential aid to the people in Gaza.
 

'De-escalate Conflict':

Beijing expressed hope that the agreement would contribute to easing the humanitarian crisis, de-escalating the conflict, and reducing tensions, as stated by foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

'First Good News':

The Kremlin welcomed the deal as "the first good news from Gaza in a very long time," underscoring the potential for building sustainable solutions based on such pauses.

'Sustainable Solutions':

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the agreement, highlighting Egypt's ongoing efforts to achieve final and sustainable solutions to guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.