World leaders hail Israel, Hamas first phase of peace deal

World leaders on Thursday expressed hope for peace and urged Israel and Hamas to fulfil their commitments in the hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the parties had agreed to the “first phase” of a deal signalling a major breakthrough in the two-year war in Gaza.
Hamas will release all 20 living hostages in the coming days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote on social media. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media: “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”
Here’s how other leaders responded.
Turkiye: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country played a role in the negotiations, on Thursday hailed the agreement. In a statement posted on X, Erdogan thanked Trump for “demonstrating the necessary political will” as well as Qatar and Egypt for facilitating the deal. Erdogan said Turkiye would closely monitor the full implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process. Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry said sending humanitarian aid to the region is a priority and stressed the urgent need to begin rebuilding Gaza.
Egypt: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi hailed the deal between Israel and Hamas as a “historic moment.” “This agreement does not only close the chapter of war; it also opens the door of hope for the peoples of the region for a future defined by justice and stability,” el-Sissi wrote on social media.
United Nations: “The United Nations will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.
China: China hoped for a “lasting and comprehensive” ceasefire in Gaza, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun saying that Xi Jinping’s government expects the agreement to ease the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza and calm tensions in the Middle East.
France: French President Emmanuel Macron said the agreement is a “great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region.” In a message posted on X, Macron commended “the efforts of President @realDonaldTrump, as well as the Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators who helped make it happen,” and called on the warring parties “to strictly uphold” the terms of the deal.
Germany: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the agreement and said he was hopeful for a full deal this week. Merz said the developments are encouraging and there’s “a great opportunity to reach an agreement with Hamas in the coming hours already” for the remaining hostages to be released this week and for the Israeli military to pull back.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia welcomed the possible start of a ceasefire, with the foreign ministry expressing “its hope that this important step will lead to urgent action to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, a complete Israeli withdrawal, the restoration of security and stability and the initiation of practical steps to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.”
Italy: Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni hailed the agreement, calling it “extraordinary news.” “This agreement and the broader path outlined by the Trump plan constitute a unique opportunity to end this conflict that must be seized,” Meloni said. “Therefore, I urge all parties to fully respect the measures already agreed upon and to work to swiftly implement the next steps envisaged in the peace plan.”
Canada: “I am relieved that the hostages will soon be reunited with their families,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media. “After years of intense suffering, peace finally feels attainable,” he said. “Canada calls on all parties to swiftly implement all agreed terms and to work towards a just and lasting peace.” Carney, like several other leaders, praised Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye for their role in the negotiations.
Argentina
“I want to take the opportunity to say that I will sign the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to international peace,” Argentine President Javier Milei posted on X.
“Any other leader with similar achievements would have received it a long time ago,” the libertarian leader and Trump ally wrote.
Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the agreement as a “ray of light.” The announcement brought “hope that after eight decades of conflict and terror, we can break this cycle of violence and build something better,” he said.
“Today the world has cause for real hope,” the Australian leader added.
Japan
“Japan welcomes that the agreement on the first phase’ has been reached among the involved parties,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters. “This agreement is an important step toward de-escalating the situation and achieving the two-state solution,” he said.
He also praised the US, Qatar, Egypt, Turkiye and other mediating countries for their “relentless effort” and sought “sincere and steady implementation” by all involved parties.
Hayashi promised Tokyo’s support and contribution to improving Gaza’s humanitarian conditions and reconstruction.