UPDATE - Europe hails Israel-Hamas humanitarian pause, hostage swap deal

ADDS REMARKS FROM DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER, BRITISH PREMIER, UK CHARITY OXFAM, UN ENVOY TOR WENNESLAND, WHO CHIEF

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – Top leaders and diplomats of European countries and European Union officials on Wednesday welcomed the new agreement between Israel and Hamas for a humanitarian pause in Gaza.

Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas announced a hostage swap and a humanitarian pause, expected to start on Thursday or Friday, according to Israeli Channel 12.

"I wholeheartedly welcome the agreement reached on the release of the 50 hostages and on a pause in hostilities," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, voicing her "gratefulness" to those who "have worked tirelessly through diplomatic channels in recent weeks to broker this agreement."

On X, EU Council President Charles Michel welcomed “the agreement on the release of women and children held hostage in Gaza," and also thanked Qatar and Egypt for their efforts to reach the deal.

- Leaders, foreign ministers hail deal

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hailed the deal as a "breakthrough" and added: "The humanitarian pause must be used to bring vital aid to the people in Gaza."

French President Emmanuel Macron praised the deal on X, stressing that Paris is working relentlessly for the release of all the hostages.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told broadcaster France Inter: "We must hail this agreement, this is a moment of true hope."

She expressed hope that French nationals would also be released.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement: "This agreement is a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

He urged all parties "to ensure the agreement is delivered in full," and emphasized the UK's continued commitment to working with all partners in the region to secure the release of all hostages.

"This pause provides an important opportunity to ensure much greater volumes of food, fuel, and other life-saving aid can reach Gaza on a sustained basis," Cameron added.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: "It is now necessary to ensure that the pause in fighting is used to bring humanitarian aid to civilians (in Gaza)."

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis issued a statement welcoming the deal and said: "In the implementation of the agreement, there must now be an immediate and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and the provision of medical care to those in need, as well as an intensification of the effort for permanent peace in the region."

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib also wrote on X that her country welcomed the agreement.

"This is a crucial first step that needs to be followed by further actions in compliance with international law. The pause should ensure that sustained humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza," she stressed.

Also on X, the Polish Foreign Ministry stressed that the "humanitarian aid needs to reach civilians suffering in the harrowing conflict."

The ministry urged all parties to "ensure it’s delivered in full & call for the immediate release of all hostages."

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen shared a message on Facebook, hoping for a longer-lasting cessation of violence and a two-state solution.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal was "something that we have consistently pushed for, and is a crucial step towards ending the nightmare for families of those taken hostage in Hamas' terror attack and also addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

While also welcoming the deal, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that it was not enough "to end the suffering of civilians."

"Efforts to free the remaining hostages must continue, and I reiterate that those still in captivity must receive any needed medical care," he said.

Ghebreyesus repeated a call for a cease-fire to the fighting "so that civilians in Gaza can receive sustained, safe and scaled up support for recovery."

UK charity Oxfam's head of policy and advocacy, Katy Chakrabortty, stressed the need for the international community to commit to "the hard work towards peace for all Israelis and Palestinians."

Calling the deal a "band-aid to a bleeding wound," Chakrabortty urged diplomatic action for long-term peace.

The UN's special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, noted that it was "critical that we see safe access and a continuous flow of humanitarian aid to all those in need."

He voiced appreciation for the governments of Egypt, Qatar, and the US for facilitating the agreement.

- Details of Israel-Hamas deal

Under the Qatar-mediated agreement, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.

The deal also includes a four-day pause in fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, including badly needed fuel, into the Gaza Strip.

The agreement also allows for an extension of the pause and the potential release of more women and children held by both sides.