Europe hails Israel-Hamas prisoner swap deal

ANKARA (AA) – Top leaders of Europe on Wednesday welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas for a humanitarian pause in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas announced a prisoner 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.

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 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.”

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.

Not enough

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.”