India on Thursday welcomed the Israel and Hamas ceasefire agreement for the release of hostages and said that it “hopes this will lead to a safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance.”
A Ministry of External Affairs statement said, “We welcome the announcement of the agreement for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. We hope this will lead to a safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. We have consistently called for release of all hostages, ceasefire, and return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy.”
In a significant breakthrough in the 15-month brutal conflict between Israel and Hamas, the two sides have agreed to a ceasefire agreement which promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The US, Egypt and Qatar have essentially brokered the deal between the bitter enemies that culminated in this ceasefire agreement.
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, describing the deal as a "critical first step” and urging parties to “seize this opportunity” to establish a credible political path to a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the broader region.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that a ceasefire agreement with Hamas is still not complete and further stated that final details are being worked out.
The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities.
Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza was triggered on October 7, 2023, when militants stormed into southern Israel, and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead, according to Reuters.
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