The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, and for about 13 months, the news was all about bombings in the Gaza Strip.
In the October attack by Hamas in Southern Israel, about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel responded with attacks targeted at getting rid of the Hamas group.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, with about 2.3 million population displaced.
However, on Wednesday, Israel and Hamas agreed on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal following meetings with Qatar's prime minister
The details of the deal that will be executed in three phases have not been published.
Following the announcement of the deal, world leaders involved in the negotiation and those who were not have hailed the ceasefire deal and here’s what they had to say;
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the United States, Egypt and Qatar for facilitating the talks.
He insisted that all parties must uphold their commitments and ensure that the deal is fully implemented.
“I urge the parties and relevant partners to seize this opportunity to establish a credible political path to a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the broader region.
“Ending the occupation and achieving a negotiated two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and previous deals agreements remain an urgent priority. Only through a viable two-state solution can the aspirations of both peoples be fulfilled,” Guterres said.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union Commission said the ceasefire deal brings hope to the region where people have undergone suffering for long.
"This brings hope to an entire region, where people have endured immense suffering for far too long. Both parties must fully implement this agreement, as a stepping stone toward lasting stability in the region and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict."
US President Joe Biden on his part said American diplomacy played a key part in reaching the deal.
He added that he is happy many who have been held hostage will be reunited with their families.
"It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran - but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done.
"Even as we welcome this news, we remember all the families whose loved ones were killed in Hamas's October 7th attack, and the many innocent people killed in the war that followed. It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin. I am also thinking of the American families, three of whom have living hostages in Gaza and four awaiting the return of remains after what has been the most horrible ordeal imaginable. Under this deal, we are determined to bring all of them home," Biden said in a statement.
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted that the ceasefire must now allow for the humanitarian aid needed in Gaza.
He added that attention must now focus on finding a permanent two-state solution that will guarantee security for Israel and Palestine.
“For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza. And then our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people - grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine state.
“The UK and its allies will continue to be at the forefront of these crucial efforts to break the cycle of violence and secure long-term peace in the Middle East.”
