Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement issued in Brussels on Thursday morning, "I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and release hostages in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by President Trump.
I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to achieve this progress. I am also encouraged by the support of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Now, all parties must fully adhere to the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released peacefully. A lasting ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end.
The European Union will continue to support the rapid and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. When the time comes, we will stand ready to assist in recovery and reconstruction efforts."
The statement concluded, "Today's opportunity must be seized. It is an opportunity to forge a credible political path towards lasting peace and security, a path firmly rooted in the two-state solution." For her part, European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas praised the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas under the auspices of US President Donald Trump on Thursday, describing it as a "diplomatic achievement." Kallas wrote in a post on Twitter that "the agreement on the first phase of the peace process in Gaza represents a major achievement," noting that "the European Union will spare no effort to support its implementation."