Ceasefire in Gaza: This is how the world reacts to the deal

A sigh of relief goes around the world: more than 15 months after the Hamas massacre in Israel, which triggered the bloody war in the Gaza Strip, the conflicting parties have agreed on a deal. A ceasefire in the largely destroyed coastal strip against dozens of Israeli hostages – the Israeli government and the terrorist organization Hamas have agreed with the help of international mediators such as Qatar, Egypt and the USA. President-elect Donald Trump is also said to have played a role.

Will the negotiated ceasefire in the Middle East hold? Uncertain.

There is still great joy and relief, both locally and worldwide. As people in the Gaza Strip danced, waved Palestinian flags and hugged each other, mediators verbally shook hands.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the agreement, according to the White House. Netanyahu in turn thanked Biden’s successor Donald Trump for his support in moving the deal forward. The Republican helped Israel “end the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families.” Netanyahu also praised Trump’s statements that the USA, together with Israel, wanted to ensure that the Gaza Strip never became a haven for terrorists. Both wanted to meet in Washington “soon” and discuss these and other questions.

Trump himself spoke on his Truth Social platform of an “epic deal” and described it as the “result of our historic victory in November.” The agreement is “just the beginning of great things to come for America and the world.”

Several Arab states also welcomed the agreement on a ceasefire. “This announcement ends a bloody page in the history of the Palestinian people, who have suffered greatly from Israeli aggression,” said Lebanon’s acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Both sides must now adhere to the agreements reached in order to put an end to the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian prisoners, said the United Arab States State Department.

Olaf Scholz welcomed the deal on Platform X. The German Chancellor combined his praise with the demand that the agreement now be implemented “consistently”. “The ceasefire offers the chance for a lasting end to the war and an improvement in the poor humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.” Germany wants to continue to work towards this.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock agreed. “Everyone who bears responsibility should now ensure that this opportunity is taken advantage of,” she wrote on X.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of an “important step” towards a “diplomatic solution to the conflict”.

French President Emmanuel Macron also demanded that the agreement must be adhered to. He insists on a political solution to the Middle East conflict. After 15 months of “unjustifiable martyrdom,” there is relief for the people of Gaza and hope for the hostages and their families.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke of “long overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have been desperately waiting for.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he hoped for lasting peace and stability. His government maintains close ties with Hamas.

Following the agreed ceasefire, humanitarian organizations are preparing to deliver more aid to the sealed-off coastal strip. A UN emergency aid program coordinator spoke of a “moment of hope and opportunity” for “millions of people whose lives have been devastated by this conflict.”

The Red Cross announced its support in implementing the ceasefire. “We are ready to support any release operation so that hostages and prisoners can return home,” said International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric on Wednesday. In addition, the Red Cross could “massively increase” its humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. To do this, everyone involved must ensure “that our teams can carry out their work safely and effectively.”

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is scheduled to come into force on January 19 and initially last for 42 days. According to Israeli media, the first hostages are expected to return to Israel on the same day. During the ceasefire, 33 of the 98 kidnapped people are to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners – although it is uncertain how many hostages are still alive. Hospitals in Israel have prepared to receive deeply traumatized and sometimes sick and injured people.

However, given the deep mistrust between both sides, it is unclear whether Israel and Hamas will stick to the agreed steps for weeks. It is therefore questionable whether it will be possible to agree on the release of the remaining hostages in the second phase of the agreement. Netanyahu is already facing accusations that with the current deal he has abandoned the hostages who remain in the Gaza Strip for the time being. Observers warn that fighting could start again after the ceasefire expires – especially since there are supporters on both sides of continuing the war.