Amman, Oct. 11 (Petra) – Arab and international reactions poured in welcoming the entry into force of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement at noon on Friday.
In the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hope that the agreement would serve as a positive step toward ending the suffering of Palestinians, restoring security and stability in the region, and allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The ministry said in a statement that the agreement "represents an important and positive step toward ending the humanitarian suffering in Gaza and paves the way for a just and lasting settlement that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and restores security and stability to the region," calling on all parties to "abide by its provisions and exercise restraint." Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said that the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement marked a day of peace for the Middle East and the world. He affirmed Bahrain’s support for the accord, underscoring the importance of all parties to the conflict assuming responsibility for its implementation, and commended the mediators’ efforts that led to the agreement.
The Somali government also expressed appreciation for the regional and international efforts that led to the latest agreement to halt Israel’s war on Gaza, stressing that it represents a constructive step toward achieving a just and comprehensive peace that helps end the suffering of the Palestinian people and consolidate security and stability in the region.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed "general relief" following the agreement to cease fire in Gaza.
"It is a step forward in resolving the conflict," Parolin was quoted by Italy’s AKI news agency as saying, adding, "We, too, share in this relief and hope that this agreement will be the first step on the path to lasting and final peace." World Food Programme (WFP) spokesperson Abeer Etefa welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached in Sharm El-Sheikh, affirming the organization’s readiness to implement a comprehensive plan to deliver food assistance to Gaza once the crossings are reopened.
She said the current priority would be to deliver nutritional supplements to areas suffering from severe malnutrition, in cooperation with humanitarian partners, foremost among them the Red Crescent, which oversees the sorting and entry of food supplies into the enclave.
The European Union also welcomed the agreement on the first phase of the comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, urging all parties to fully implement the deal without delay to pave the way for a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access and distribution across the Strip.
Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard said the Gaza ceasefire agreement should lead to ending Israel’s apartheid system and the genocide in Gaza.
Callamard stressed that the deal "must not be limited to a temporary halt in attacks or a mere reduction in their pace, nor should it allow only minimal humanitarian aid into Gaza. It should bring about a complete end to all hostilities and a total lifting of the blockade." She also called for allowing all internally displaced Palestinians to return to their homes "without Israel imposing conditions on who is allowed to return and who is denied." //Petra// AF
