REVISES HEADLINE, ADDS MORE STATEMENTS
By Rania Abushamala and Mohammed Sio
ISTANBUL (AA) - Arab countries welcomed a deal Wednesday on a cease-fire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas which was reached after more than a year of intensive negotiations with Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators.
“I welcome the cease-fire agreement in Gaza after over a year of strenuous efforts mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Facebook.
He emphasized the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“This agreement highlights the importance of quickly providing critical aid to the people of Gaza to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, without any obstacles, until a sustainable peace is achieved through a two-state solution,” he said
Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting a just peace, remaining a steadfast partner in achieving it and defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry appreciated the efforts made by Egypt, Qatar and the US to reach the agreement, emphasizing the "need for full adherence to it."
The statement quoted Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi as stressing the "necessity of launching an immediate international initiative to deliver sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to address the humanitarian disaster caused by the Israeli aggression on Gaza."
It highlighted that Jordan, "under the guidance and follow-up of King Abdullah II, will continue providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and supporting the Palestinian people in their pursuit of their full legitimate rights to achieve a just peace."
Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati also welcomed the announcement by Qatar, Egypt and the US on the agreement to establish a cease-fire in Gaza.
"This announcement closes a bloody chapter in the history of the Palestinian people, who have suffered greatly due to Israeli aggression,” said Mikati, hoping that the cease-fire “will be sustainable and that Israel will adhere to it, paving the way for a final resolution to the Palestinian issue and granting Palestinians their legitimate rights.”
Saudi Arabia also welcomed the announcement, emphasizing “the need for adherence to the agreement, the cessation of Israeli aggression on Gaza, the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the (Gaza) Strip and all Palestinian and Arab territories, and the return of displaced people to their areas.”
The Saudi Foreign Ministry also stressed “the importance of building on this agreement to address the root cause of the conflict by enabling the Palestinian people to obtain their rights, foremost among them the establishment of their independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his country's welcome of the cease-fire agreement.
He commended "the efforts made by Qatar, Egypt and the United States to achieve this agreement," expressing hope that it "will pave the way to end suffering, prevent further loss of life, and put an end to the crisis and tragic conditions in the Gaza Strip."
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that it "welcomes the agreement, which comes after significant sacrifices and immense suffering by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."
The ministry considered the cease-fire efforts as "a reflection of the importance of international cooperation to end civilian suffering and ensure regional stability."
Similarly, Yemen, through a statement by its Foreign Ministry, appreciated the joint mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt and the United States that led to this agreement, "which is expected to end the war in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people."
On the organizational front, the International Union of Muslim Scholars welcomed in a statement the "cessation of aggression on Gaza and commended the resilience and sacrifices of its people," calling for "the reconstruction of Gaza."
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed the agreement at a news conference in Doha, which will come into effect on Sunday.
He outlined the first phase, which will last for 42 days and include the release of 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners.
The announcement comes on day 467 of Israel's genocide against Gaza, which with US backing has killed and wounded more than 156,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
The war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters in recent times.