The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that the Israeli hostages will be released next Monday (13) and that “Gaza will be rebuilt”.
In an interview with the Fox News television network, shortly after this Wednesday’s announcement (8), Trump said that Israel “can’t fight the world” and that “they understand that”, in reference to the first phase of the peace plan agreed with Hamas, which includes the release of Palestinian hostages and prisoners, as well as the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
“The world is united to achieve this agreement,” declared Trump, citing Iran as one of the countries that “blessed” the initiative.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, however, that a ceasefire in Gaza will come into force only after the government approves the agreement reached in Sharm El Sheikh. He said he would bring together his members to ratify the plan, thanking Trump for his commitment to freeing the hostages held by Hamas.
“A great day for Israel. Tomorrow [esta quinta-feira] I will call on the government to ratify the agreement and bring home all our precious hostages,” Netanyahu said in a statement distributed by his office in the early hours of Thursday, shortly after Trump announced the signing of the agreement.
The announcement came just hours after the American president officially confirmed the signing of a first phase of the peace agreement for Gaza, drawn up with the support of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States and backed by the United Nations (UN).
The pact contemplates an immediate ceasefire and the beginning of a process of reconstruction and normalization of relations in the region.
The American president is considering receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation in this and other conflicts since he resumed the American presidency. The winner of this year’s edition will be announced this Friday (10).
Families of hostages in Gaza receive agreement with emotion and concern
The families of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip received the news of the signing of the first phase of the peace agreement between Israel and the terrorist group with a mix of optimism and concern, and called on Netanyahu’s government to ratify it as quickly as possible.
In a statement, the Forum on Hostages and Missing Families celebrated the signing of the agreement between Israel and Hamas that will result in the release of 48 hostages in Gaza, of which around 20 are alive, according to estimates.
“The Israeli government must meet immediately to approve the agreement. Any delay could have serious consequences for the hostages and soldiers,” the note said.
The text highlights that the agreement will return all hostages, “the living for their rehabilitation with their families, and the deceased for a dignified burial in their homeland.”
“This represents an important and significant step forward for everyone’s return, but our fight has not ended and will not end until the last hostage returns,” the families added.
They expressed their “deep gratitude” to US President Donald Trump and his team “for the leadership and determination that led to this historic breakthrough: the end of the war and a full agreement for the return of all hostages.”
