Israelis attend a demonstration, calling for the return of loved ones who were taken as hostages following a deadly infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 14, 2023. (Reuters)
The United Nations applauded Israel and Hamas’ agreement on Wednesday to release captives and put an end to the fighting and bombardment of Gaza, but stated that much more work needed to be done.
After weeks of all-out fighting, Israel and Hamas struck a deal on Wednesday that would liberate dozens of Palestinian inmates and hostages while providing a four-day ceasefire for the beleaguered people of Gaza.
According to a statement from the UN chief’s spokesperson, Antonio Guterres “welcomes the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar supported by Egypt and the United States.”
“There is still much work to be done, but this is a significant step in the right direction.”
UN help would be given for the agreement’s implementation, according to Guterres.
50 women and children who were abducted by Palestinian terrorists during their fatal assaults into southern Israel on October 7 are expected to be released, marking the first significant diplomatic victory in the bloodiest-ever Gaza conflict.
The UN health agency’s chief stated that while the World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the agreement, suffering among civilians will not end.
“We welcome the announcement of the Israel-Hamas agreement for 50 Israeli hostages to be released,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X, formerly Twitter.
“My thoughts are with the families, some of whom my WHO colleagues and I met with in recent weeks. We also welcome the four-day pause in fighting that will allow more aid to be safely delivered into Gaza.”
