Leaders across the world are welcoming the news after Hamas overnight agreed to a peace deal first presented by President Donald Trump late last month, and shortly thereafter, agreed to by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The landmark agreement has been described as a “critical turning point” and a beacon of hope for other conflicts around the globe that continue to rage.
Trump, in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Wednesday night, championed the achievement and said "the whole world came together" to make the deal happen, crediting both "luck" and "talent."
HAMAS ACCEPTS TRUMP PEACE PLAN ENDING 2 YEARS OF WAR IN GAZA, RETURNING HOSTAGES
"With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel," Netanyahu said. "From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved."
He thanked his "great friend and ally President Trump," saying Israel has "reached this critical turning point."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog chimed in on X, offering an emphatic endorsement of the deal while thanking Trump, adding that "should he visit us in the coming days, he will be received with immense respect, affection, and gratitude by the people of Israel."
"This agreement will bring moments of indescribable relief to the dear families who have not slept for 733 days. This agreement offers a chance to mend, to heal, and to open a new horizon of hope for our region," the post read. "This is a time to honor the heroes among us: our sons and daughters who fought bravely to bring the hostages home; the bereaved families; the wounded in body and spirit; and all who have paid an unbearable price for this historic and vital moment."
"We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic, and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement its obligations under the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon," Hamas said after agreeing to the terms hashed out by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
"We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas "welcomed" the news and said he hopes the agreement will bring an end to "Israeli occupation forces" in Gaza, renew humanitarian aid and "facilitate a prisoner exchange."
Ultimately, he "expressed hope" that the end to the brutal war would be a "prelude to reaching a permanent political solution" that would recognize the UN-established 1967 borders.
"Sovereignty over the Gaza Strip belongs to the State of Palestine," Abbas added.
TRUMP UNVEILS 20-POINT PLAN TO SECURE PEACE IN GAZA, INCLUDING GRANTING SOME HAMAS MEMBERS 'AMNESTY'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy applauded the agreement – which still needs formal approval from the Israeli government before hostage releases can be initiated along with the initial withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces – and said, the end to the war in Gaza "matters not only for that one region, but for the whole world."
"An agreement is moving forward that could help everyone. If violence and war are halted in one part of the world, global security increases for all," he said in a post on X.
"We hope that the Israeli hostages, held for more than two years, will be released, and there will be no more victims in Gaza," Zelenskyy said, thanking Trump and the U.S. for its role in ending global conflicts. "And we hope that global efforts will likewise be sufficient to achieve real peace for our country, in our region."
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to U.S. President Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a post on X. "As Turkey, we will closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process."
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer also "welcomed" the news and called it "a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years."
Starmer called for the terms to be implemented "in full" and "without delay."
French President Emmanuel Macron, who made waves last month after he announced France would recognize the "state of Palestine" during the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, said, "This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution.
"France stands ready to contribute to this goal. We will discuss it this afternoon in Paris with our international partners," he added.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted that the agreement is just the "first step" but said it was "promising."
"For the first time in a long while, there is a real prospect of peace in the region. We call on all parties to keep their promises, end the war, and pave the way for lasting peace. Germany will continue to firmly support this process," he added.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the breakthrough and urged swift follow-through, reported Reuters.
"I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. The United Nations will support full implementation and recovery efforts. This momentous opportunity must not be lost," Guterres said.
