Leaders across the world have welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal brokered under U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan, calling it a critical first step but warning that full implementation is essential.
The agreement, announced on Wednesday, marks the first phase of a long-awaited truce between Israel and Hamas, which have been locked in a war since October 2023.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the deal offered “a moment of profound relief” and urged all parties to uphold their commitments.
“This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza,” he said in a statement.
Global Affairs Canada echoed the call, welcoming the agreement and stressing the need for unimpeded humanitarian access.
“Canada will support all efforts to turn this positive step into lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” it said on social media.
Trump, who announced the deal via his Truth Social platform, said it marked a “GREAT Day” for the region and praised the roles of mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye. “All Parties will be treated fairly!” he wrote.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a big day for Israel,” confirming he would convene his cabinet on Thursday to approve the agreement.
“With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbours,” he said.
Hamas also confirmed its support, while urging Trump and other guarantor states to ensure Israel abides by its obligations. “We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain,” the group said.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the deal and urged “immediate and unimpeded entry” of humanitarian aid into Gaza. “A permanent ceasefire must be secured,” he said.
“The suffering must end,” Guterres said.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters called the ceasefire “an essential first step” and pressed both sides to build on the deal toward a “complete resolution.”
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The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
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Two days inside Uzbekistan’s newsrooms, hospitals, factories and technology hubs reveal a country eager to show how it is changing — while that transformation is still under way.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day visit, marking the first trip by Syria’s top diplomat to Pakistan in 19 years as Damascus seeks to deepen ties with the country.
More than a year after Pakistan and India were involved in their most serious military confrontation in decades, a key airspace restriction between the nuclear-armed neighbours remains in force.
Uzbekistan has unveiled a sweeping package of business reforms, including easier access to loans, $1 billion in export support, a three-year moratorium on most inspections and stronger protections for entrepreneurs.
Afghan business representatives are seeking new trade and investment opportunities at Iran’s 26th International Building Industry Exhibition, as they look to expand ties with Iranian and international companies.
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