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Leaders from the United States and around the world praised the recent Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas On Wednesday.
Biden announced the terms of the ceasefire during a press conference Wednesday at the White House. It will consist of two phases and will take place over the next few weeks.
The first phase, which will begin on Sunday, “includes a complete and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of several hostages held by Hamas, including women, the elderly and the wounded,” Biden said.
The second phase depends on Israel negotiating “the necessary arrangements” to mark a complete end to the war.
Citizens gather in Republic Square to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Paris, Wednesday. (Luc Auffret/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The response to the agreement was overwhelmingly positive. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was “very encouraged” to see the ceasefire become a reality.
“This is something I have asked for for many, many months over the last year since the horrific and barbaric attack on innocent civilians in Israel that occurred on October 7 of last year,” Hochul said. “My main priority has been to bring the hostages home.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., wrote in X that he felt “an indescribable sense of relief” at the hostages’ return.
“The return of the hostages will mark the beginning of closure for Israelis and Jews, as well as many others, who remain deeply affected by the indelible terror and trauma of October 7,” Torres wrote. “The hostages have returned home thanks to the power of the most powerful friendship in the world: the relationship between the United States and Israel.”
The deal also attracted international attention. In a statement, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer called the ceasefire “long overdue news.”
FOX NEWS TAKES AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE IDF’S WAR AGAINST HAMAS
Hundreds of people, demanding the immediate return of prisoners held by Hamas, gather with banners and photographs of prisoners to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government in front of the Ministry of Defense building in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday. (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“(The Israeli and Palestinian people) have borne the brunt of this conflict, sparked by the brutal Hamas terrorists, who committed the deadliest massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023,” Starmer said. “The hostages, who were brutally torn from their homes that day and held captive in unimaginable conditions since, can now finally return to their families.
“But we should also take this moment to pay tribute to those who will not make it home, including the Britons who were killed by Hamas. We will continue to mourn and remember them.”
In an X post translated from French to English, French President Emmanuel Macron said the ceasefire must be respected.
“After 15 months of unjustifiable suffering, immense relief for Gazans, hope for the hostages and their families,” Macron said. He also made reference to Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Calderón, two Franco-Israeli hostages.
Although many are celebrating, some have expressed caution about the possibility of the deal failing.
President Biden delivers a speech on the recently announced ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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On Wednesday, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said the “major hurdle” – which included finalizing the deal – had been “overcome.”
Hopefully this weekend we’ll start to see some families reunited,” Kirby said, adding that he was “confident” the deal will be implemented, despite the hard work ahead.
Fox News Digital’s Joshua Comins contributed to this report.
