Skip to main content
Live Blog Update| Occupation

World reacts to Israel-Hamas ceasefire

United Nations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that both Israeli and Palestinian leaders hold responsibility to not only restore calm, but address the root issues in the conflict.

“Gaza is an integral part of the future Palestinian state and no effort should be spared to bring about real national reconciliation that ends the division," Guterres said.

A group of experts with the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) said on Tuesday that after securing a ceasefire, the international community must then work to end Israel's occupation of Palestine.

United States

US President Joe Biden on Thursday evening commended both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the ceasefire with Hamas, while reiterating that Washington "fully supports Israel's right to defend itself" against Hamas rocket attacks.

Palestine celebrates beginning of Gaza ceasefire after 11 days of deadly Israeli air strikes
Read More »

"We remain committed to work with the United Nations and other international stakeholders to provide rapid humanitarian assistance and to marshal international support for the people in Gaza and in the Gaza reconstruction efforts," he said.

"I believe the Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely and enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy."

Still while condemning Hamas for its rocket attacks on Israel, the US president did not mention that Israel had killed at least 232 Palestinians, including at least 65 children.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that now that a ceasefire has taken effect, "we must turn our focus toward making more tangible progress toward a durable peace".

Egypt

Egypt's Sisi thanked Biden for his role in making the ceasefire in Gaza succeed, and said that he and the US president both saw the urgency of managing the conflict between all parties with diplomacy.

"With utter happiness I have received a phone call from President Biden in which we have exchanged visions around reaching a formula that would calm the current conflict between Israel and Gaza, our vision was in tune about managing the conflict between all parties with diplomacy."

United Kingdom

UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab welcomed the news of the ceasefire, saying that both sides "must work to make the ceasefire durable and end the unacceptable cycle of violence and loss of civilian life".

"UK continues to support efforts to bring about peace," Raab said.