On Wednesday, European officials praised the temporary cease-fire agreement that Israel and Hamas reached over night. The agreement includes the release of 50 hostages that the Palestinian terrorist group had been holding in exchange for prisoners.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she “wholeheartedly welcome[d]” the agreement. “I share the joy of the families who can soon embrace their loved ones again,” von der Leyen said in a statement, adding that the Commission would “upscale” aid deliveries to Gaza “as quickly as possible to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.”
Josep Borrell, the chief diplomat for the European Union, stated that the ceasefire “must be used to provide as much urgently needed aid to the civilians” in Gaza and that the EU would “do its part” in doing so.
Meanwhile, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, thanked Egypt and Qatar for “helping broker” the cease-fire agreement.
Along with Egypt and the United States, Qatar, a tiny Gulf nation with influence over Hamas, played a key role as an intermediary in the negotiations.
The four- to five-day temporary cease-fire marks the first significant break in hostilities since Hamas’ surprise attacks on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 persons, the most of them civilians, on Israeli territory. Additionally, it is thought that Hamas has taken about 240 captives, including international and Israeli nationals, and is holding them in Gaza.
As part of the cease-fire agreement, Israel agreed to liberate 150 Palestinian prisoners who are presently being held in Israeli jail, while Hamas will release 50 women and children.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the deal “a breakthrough,” while her French counterpart Catherine Colonna said it provided “a moment of genuine hope.”
“We very much hope — we are working on it — that French people, children and women in particular, will be in this first group of released people,” Colonna told public radio broadcaster France Inter, adding that several of the eight French citizens still missing after the Hamas attacks on Israel had been confirmed as among the hostages.
After the deal was reached, Colonna stated that the ceasefire would begin “within 24 hours,” despite reports of fighting continuing into Wednesday morning.
According to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel will give the ceasefire an extra day in exchange for each ten captives that Hamas releases.
Israel has laid siege to Gaza as payback for the Hamas attacks, cutting off the heavily populated Palestinian enclave—which is home to some 2 million people—from food, gasoline, and water, as well as humanitarian aid.
The Gaza health officials, under Hamas control, report that over 12,000 persons, largely civilians, have been killed by Israeli aircraft and ground assaults.
Netanyahu has vowed to resume the war after the temporary cease-fire ends.
“I would like to make it clear. We are at war, and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals: eliminate Hamas, return all the hostages and missing, and guarantee that there will be no threat to Israel in Gaza,” he said on Tuesday evening.
