UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed a ceasefire deal in Gaza on Wednesday between Israel and Palestinian terrorists Hamas, stressing that the "priority now must be to ease the tremendous suffering caused by this conflict."
"The United Nations stands ready to support the implementation of this deal and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer," he told reporters.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed he was "hugely relieved" at the news, but took the opportunity to condemn "Israel's illegal continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" and stress the need for a two state solution.
“I am hugely relieved by the news of the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, and it is imperative that it now holds,” he said. “I urge parties to the conflict and all countries with influence to do everything in their powers to ensure the success of next stages of the ceasefire, including the release of all hostages and to end the war in its entirety.”
“My thoughts, right now, are with those who have suffered so much unbearable pain and misery over the past 15 months, and I hope for everyone’s sake that no one will ever have to go through this again,” the High Commissioner added.
“Those responsible for the heinous acts of 7 October, the subsequent unlawful killings of civilians across Gaza, and for all other crimes under international law must be held to account,” he said. “The right of victims to full reparations must be upheld. There is no true way forward without honest truth-telling and accountability on all sides.”
European reactions
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen celebrated the news Hamas had agreed to a hostage-ceasefire deal on Wednesday.
"I warmly welcome the ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza. Hostages will be reunited with their loved ones and humanitarian aid can reach civilians in Gaza. This brings hope to an entire region, where people have endured immense suffering for far too long," the EU official wrote on X/Twitter. "Both parties must fully implement this agreement, as a stepping stone toward lasting stability in the region and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict."
German foreign secretary Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday said there is hope that hostages will finally be released and that deaths in Gaza will come to an end.
Her remarks follow negotiators reaching a phased deal to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
Baerbock said in her statement in a post on X that everyone who bears responsibility should now ensure that this opportunity is seized.
Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo insisted, “After too many months of conflict, we feel tremendous relief for the hostages, for their families and for the people of Gaza. Let’s hope this ceasefire will put an end to the fighting and mark the beginning of a sustained peace. Belgium stands ready to help.”
"After months of devastating bloodshed and countless lives lost, this is the long-overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared in a statement. "For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza.
My statement on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/eLbgaTr4dP
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) January 15, 2025
"And then our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people - grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine state."
Middle East reacts
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed on Wednesday the Gaza ceasefire deal, according to a post on X.
Al-Sisi stressed the importance of a fast delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he welcomes the Gaza ceasefire deal and hopes it will open the door for lasting peace and stability for Palestinians and the region.
In a post on X, Erdogan also said Turkey will continue to stand with and support the people of Gaza with all its means.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters in Ankara the ceasefire deal was an important step for regional stability. Fidan also said Turkish efforts for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would continue.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani called for calm in the Gaza Strip between now and Jan. 19 when the ceasefire deal takes effect.
Statement | Qatar, Egypt, and the United States Announce that the Two Parties to the Conflict in Gaza have Reached an Agreement to Exchange Detainees and Prisoners and Return to Sustainable Calm#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/vZySR1mDTv
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) January 15, 2025
Terror groups react
Hamas' acting Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised address on Wednesday that Israel failed to achieve its goals in Gaza, shortly after a ceasefire deal was announced.
He also vowed the Palestinian group will neither forgive or forget.
Yemen's Houthis saluted "resistance groups" in Gaza on Wednesday following the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire deal, saying that Israel's 'occupation' of 'Palestine' "continues to be a threat to the stability and security of the region," according to a statement by the group's spokesman on Telegram.