Leaders in the US and around the world praised recently Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday.
Biden announced the terms of the ceasefire during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday. It will consist of two phases and will take place over the next few weeks.
The first phase, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, “includes full i complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women, the elderly and the wounded,” Biden said.
The second phase depends on Israel negotiating “necessary arrangements” to mark a complete end to the war.
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Citizens gathered at the Place de la Republique to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Paris, Wednesday. (Luc Auffret/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The reaction to the agreement was extremely positive. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was “very encouraged” that the truce had come to fruition.
“It’s something I’ve been calling for for many, many months over the past year since the horrific, barbaric attack on innocent civilians in Israel that occurred on October 7 of last year,” Hochul said. “My top priority is getting the hostages home.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres, DN.Y., wrote on X that he felt “indescribable relief” at the return of the hostages.
“The return of the hostages will mark the beginning of closure for Israelis and Jews, as well as countless others, who remain deeply affected by the indelible terror and trauma of October 7,” Torres wrote. “The hostages were brought home by the power of the most powerful friendship in the world – the US-Israel relationship.”
The deal also attracted international attention. In a statement, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer called the ceasefire “long overdue news.”
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Hundreds of people, demanding the immediate return of prisoners held by Hamas, gathered with banners and photographs of the prisoners to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government outside the Defense Ministry building in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday. (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“[The Israeli and Palestinian people] have borne the brunt of this conflict – fueled by brutal Hamas terrorists, who committed the deadliest massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023,” Starmer said. “The hostages, who were thus brutally torn from their homes on the day and held in captivity in unimaginable conditions, now they can finally return to their families.
“But we should also take this moment to honor those who will not be coming home – including the Britons killed by Hamas. We will continue to mourn and remember them.”
In a statement translated from French to English by UX, French President Emmanuel Macron said the ceasefire must be respected.
“After 15 months of unjustified ordeal, a huge relief for the people of Gaza, hope for the hostages and their families,” Macron said. He also mentioned Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Calderon, two French-Israeli hostages.
While many are celebrating, some have expressed caution about the possibility of the deal collapsing.
President Biden speaks about the recently announced cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas as he is joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Cross Room of the White House, Wednesday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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On Wednesday, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said a “major hurdle” — which included finalizing the deal — had been “overcome.”
Hopefully come this weekend we’ll start to see some families reunited,” Kirby said, adding he’s “confident” the deal will go through, despite the tough work ahead.
Fox News Digital’s Joshua Comins contributed to this report.
