On Thursday 9 October, European leaders welcomed the announcement of an agreement reached on the night of 8-9 October to guarantee a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, on the basis of the peace plan presented on 29 September by US President Donald Trump.
“I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye in achieving this breakthrough. Am also encouraged by the support of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority”, commented Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.
“Now, all parties must fully uphold the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released safely. A permanent ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end”, she adds.
“It’s the opportunity to forge a credible political path toward lasting peace and security. A path firmly anchored in the two-state solution [...]”, the president went on to say. “The EU will continue to support the swift and safe delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. And when the time comes, we will be ready to help with recovery and reconstruction”.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, said that the “implementation paves the way for the long-awaited release of all Israeli hostages, a ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to the severe humanitarian crisis on the ground. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye in making this breakthrough possible”.
“The agreement signed on Gaza is good news: foremost for the surviving hostages, but also for Israelis and Palestinians in general, the region, and the international community. It is now about implementing the agreement completely and letting no one be allowed to find pretexts to avoid it”, also declared Germany’s Michael Gahler (EPP).
Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on the first phase of the Trump plan, which includes a ceasefire, an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages and the entry of humanitarian aid.
According to AFP, Hamas will release the twenty hostages alive (out of the forty-seven still in Gaza) in one go by 13 October, in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The American plan provides for the eventual disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israel from the territory. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)