GAZA: The Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas formally came into force after US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been struck between the warring parties, Egypt’s Al Qahera.
The ceasefire was formally signed in Sharm el-Sheikh and went into effect at 12:00 Cairo time. In order to facilitate the movement of civilians and the delivery of aid, five humanitarian crossings into Gaza will open. The deal’s first prisoner swap is tentatively set for Saturday or Sunday, the media added.
Egypt’s foreign ministry on Thursday hailed the “recent positive developments in Sharm El-Sheikh, which represent a pivotal moment in the war in Gaza”, hours after a deal was announced between Hamas and Israel.
The statement said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty would travel to Paris on Thursday for a ministerial meeting to “discuss arrangements for the situation in the Gaza Strip”, after mediators Egypt, Qatar, the US and Turkey brokered a deal for the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire.
Saudi Arabia on Thursday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and said it hoped it would lead to peace after two years of devastating war.
Saudi Arabia hopes “this important step will lead to urgent action to alleviate the humanitarian suffering… achieve a full Israeli withdrawal, restore security and stability, and initiate practical steps to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution”, a foreign ministry statement said.
Israel’s neighbour Jordan also hailed the deal in a statement, saying it should “lead to the end of the war, the implementation of the exchange agreement (of hostages and prisoners) and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid”.
Israel’s cabinet will meet on Thursday at 1500 GMT to discuss a plan to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza, a government statement said after US President Donald Trump’s announced a ceasefire and hostage release agreement. “Government meeting at 18:00 (1500 GMT). Agenda – Plan for the release of all Israeli hostages,” an announcement posted on the government website said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced overnight that he would be convening a cabinet meeting Thursday to approve a plan for the release of hostages.
