World leaders praised US President Donald Trump's announcement that Israel and Hamas had come to an agreement on a Gaza deal on Thursday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Gaza deal agreement a "breakthrough" in a statement.
"I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by President Donald J. Trump. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in brokering this desperately needed breakthrough," Guterres said.
"I urge all concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once and for all. Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end.
He added that the UN would scale up the delivery of humanitarian aid, as per the agreement, and that it would "advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza."
Seizing the moment
"I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. The stakes have never been higher."
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said that the "protection and humanitarian needs in Gaza are massive. Access - for humanitarian aid, humanitarian and protection workers, international journalists and international human rights monitors - is crucial."
Türk added that the momentum from the ceasefire could "lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities."
He also called for an end to the "toxic rhetoric of war and hatred."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that "peace finally feels attainable" after Trump's announcement.
"Congratulations to President Trump for his essential leadership, and thank you to Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye for their tireless work to support the negotiations," Carney wrote on X/Twitter, adding that he was relieved to see the hostages go home.
"After years of intense suffering, peace finally feels attainable. Canada calls on all parties to swiftly implement all agreed terms and to work towards a just and lasting peace."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said he welcomed the agreement, urging that it must be implemented in full without delay.
"I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump's peace plan for Gaza," Starmer said in a statement. "This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the announcement, commending the efforts of Trump, Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators.
"Great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region," Macron wrote on X.
He also called on all parties to "strictly uphold" the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which, in his view, "must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution."
France will contribute towards this goal and discuss it in Paris with international partners on Thursday afternoon, he clarified.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed the agreement on the first phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan between Israel and Hamas, calling it a step toward lasting peace in the region.
"We welcome the agreement on the first phase of President Trump's peace plan. This is also a reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu," Modi said in a post on X/Twitter.
Expressing hope for stability in Gaza, PM Modi added that the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance "will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace."
Germany's Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert said that he was looking forward to the end of the war and the release of the hostages.
"Thank you to the peacemakers! It’s beautiful to wake up to the prospect of an end of the nightmare: can’t wait for the hostages‘ release and for the war to end."
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that his country urged both parties to "continue working towards a complete resolution."
"Hamas needs to release all of the hostages and Israel must withdraw their troops to the agreed-upon line," Peters said in a statement."This is an essential first step towards achieving lasting peace.
"The agreement reached in Egypt for the implementation of the first phase of President Trump's peace plan is extraordinary news that paves the way for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to agreed lines," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.
"I wish to thank President Trump for relentlessly seeking an end to the conflict in Gaza and the mediators - Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey - for their efforts which proved crucial for the positive outcome achieved," the premier continued. "This agreement and the broader path outlined by the Trump Plan constitute a unique opportunity to end this conflict that must absolutely be seized. For this reason, I urge all parties to fully respect the measures already agreed upon and to work to quickly implement the next steps envisioned by the peace plan."
"Italy will continue to support the efforts of the mediators and is ready to contribute to the stabilization, reconstruction, and development of Gaza," Meloni concluded.
Italy's foreign minister welcomed the agreement and said the country is ready to send troops if peacekeeping forces are needed.
"The peace is near," Antonio Tajani said on Friday on X. "Italy, which has always supported the US plan, is ready to do its part to consolidate the ceasefire, deliver new humanitarian aid, and participate in the reconstruction of Gaza. We are also ready to send troops if an international peacekeeping force is created to reunify Palestine."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that he was pleased with the outcome of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations, which resulted in a ceasefire deal for Gaza. He added that Turkey would closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the Spanish government welcomes the news coming from the Middle East, affirming that "now is the time to engage in dialogue, assist the civilian population, and look to the future with hope, but also with justice and memory, so that atrocities that have been experienced are never repeated again."
President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the ceasefire agreement and commended the diplomatic efforts of the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
She also stated that she was encouraged by the support of both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority for the deal.
Von der Leyen affirmed that all parties must upload the terms of the agreement, all hostages must be released safely, a permanent ceasefire must be established, and suffering must end.
The EU will continue supporting the safe delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, she added, concluding with her belief that the opportunity to pursue a two-state solution must be seized.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas added that "The agreement on the first phase of the Gaza peace deal marks a significant breakthrough."
"This is a major diplomatic accomplishment and a real chance to end a devastating war and release all the hostages. The EU will do what it can to support its implementation," Kallas affirmed.
Jordan and the Arab Parliament issued statements welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Thursday, Jordan's official news agency confirmed.
President of the Arab Parliament Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi welcomed the ceasefire as an "important step towards stopping bloodshed and establishing a just and comprehensive peace."
Jordan welcomed the agreement as a step towards leading to an end to the war, releasing the Gaza hostages and Palestinian prisoners, the IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the area.
Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, praised the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the US to reach this agreement, while thanking Turkey for its efforts towards reaching a deal.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia hopes US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war will be successfully implemented and is willing to support efforts to end the bloodshed, he said on Thursday.
"We very much hope that these initiatives of the US president will actually be realized in practice," Putin said at a summit in Tajikistan.