Arab foreign ministers welcomed an agreement for a temporary truce between Israel and Gaza terrorist group Hamas on Wednesday but said it should be extended and become a first step toward a full cessation of hostilities.
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan said at a roundtable discussion with journalists in London that the agreement, which includes hostage releases and stepped-up aid into the devastated Gaza Strip, should also ultimately lead to a resumption of talks for a two-state solution.
The Arab foreign ministers are leading a so-called contact group of mostly Muslim countries which are lobbying Israel's major allies to bring about an end to the Gaza war, which erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 civilians and Israeli soldiers.
The deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to declare a humanitarian pause in Gaza and release some hostages is a "positive development," Turkey's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
"We expect full compliance with the agreement," the ministry said. "We hope that the humanitarian pause will help permanently end the current conflict as soon as possible and initiate a process towards a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution," it said in a statement.