6-week ceasefire reached in Gaza: First reactions from around the world

12punto Foreign News

Hamas, in a statement to Al Jazeera Arabic, reported that it had conveyed its approval of the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement to the mediators. Donald Trump also announced that a 6-week ceasefire had been reached in a statement shared on his social media accounts.

The Israeli press had suggested earlier today (January 15) that the Israeli side would approve the agreement.

Following the statements from both sides, people in both Gaza and Israel began taking to the streets to hold demonstrations.

While people in Gaza began celebrating following the ceasefire announcements, statements began to arrive from international organizations.

Israeli forces had increased their attacks on Gaza in the last 24 hours. According to reports from the region, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed at least 62 people during this period.

President-elect of the US Donald Trump said, 'We have reached a deal' for the hostages in Gaza, adding, 'They will be released soon.'

No official statement has been made by the Israeli side regarding the ceasefire agreement.

According to reports in the Israeli press, thousands of Israelis held a demonstration in Tel Aviv calling for an agreement that would ensure the release of captives held in Gaza, while hundreds of 'hardliners' marched in Jerusalem demanding the continuation of the war.

In Israel's war on Gaza, at least 46,707 Palestinians have been killed and 110,265 people have been injured since October 7, 2023. In the Hamas attacks that began on October 7, at least 1,139 Israelis were killed and more than 200 people were taken hostage.

The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR Action) stated after the ceasefire was reached in Gaza that 'Israel's era of impunity must now end rapidly.' The USCPR is demanding that Israel be tried for war crimes.

The group's Executive Director Ahmad Abuznaid stated, 'All perpetrators who fund and enable acts of genocide, including officials in the Biden administration, must be held accountable in The Hague.'

Abuznaid stated the following in his remarks to international press organizations:

'Every displaced Palestinian must be granted the right to return to their homes and lands. Reconstruction and humanitarian aid must be a priority to help Palestinians caught in the middle of the genocide. This will require ending Israel's illegal siege of Gaza and the occupation of Palestine.'

Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders had previously drawn attention to the fact that Israel was committing war crimes and announced that the blockade should be ended, based on reports from journalists and volunteers operating in the region.

The international aid organization Save the Children expressed their satisfaction with the ceasefire agreement while emphasizing that humanitarian aid for children facing difficult conditions in the Gaza Strip must be increased.

The statement said, 'Any pause must become a definitive ceasefire.'

Save the Children also reported in its statement that hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children are in urgent need of shelter, food, and medical supplies.

Humanitarian aid organizations that have been operating in Gaza since the beginning of the war have been trying to draw attention to the dire situation of Palestinians.

In Gaza, where sufficient humanitarian aid cannot reach due to Israel's attacks and blockade, it is reported that dozens of children and babies have lost their lives due to starvation, although the exact number is unknown.

Save the Children CEO Inger Ashing said, 'For 15 months, nearly a million children in Gaza have been trapped in a nightmare filled with loss, trauma, and risks to their lives at every turn.'

Ashing also stated the following in her remarks to Al Jazeera:

'If implemented, this ceasefire will provide Palestinians with a respite from the bombs and bullets that have followed them for over a year. However, this is not enough, and as the shadow of famine looms (in Gaza), the struggle to save children facing hunger and disease continues. This pause must be permanent, and efforts to end the siege and significantly increase the entry of aid must be urgently stepped up.'