In a world weary from two years of relentless conflict in Gaza, the announcement of a breakthrough ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has sparked a rare wave of hope—and no shortage of international praise for the diplomatic efforts that made it possible. On October 8, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that both Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace plan, marking what leaders and observers alike are calling a significant turning point in the region’s troubled history.
“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. All Parties will be treated fairly!” Trump posted on social media, his words echoing across capitals from London to New Delhi and beyond, as reported by ABC News and The Times of Israel.
The deal’s broad strokes are dramatic: Hamas is to release all remaining hostages, while Israel will pull back its troops to a mutually agreed line within Gaza. Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are also believed to be under consideration for release from Israeli jails, though the precise numbers and timelines remain under wraps as of Thursday morning. The agreement, a product of marathon negotiations involving U.S., Israeli, Egyptian, and Qatari officials in Cairo, is being hailed as the most substantial diplomatic advance in the conflict since hostilities erupted in 2023.
World leaders were quick to respond. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a statement closely mirrored by French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, said, “I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.”
Starmer went further, emphasizing the need for immediate humanitarian aid: “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 called on all parties to fulfill their commitments, urging them “to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog did not mince words in his gratitude, stating, “I wish to extend my deepest thanks to POTUS Donald Trump for his incredible leadership toward securing the release of the hostages, bringing an end to the war, and creating hope for a new reality in the Middle East. There is no doubt that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for this. Should he visit us in the coming days, he will be received with immense respect, affection, and gratitude by the people of Israel.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, calling it “a great day for Israel” and announcing his intention to convene the government to approve the agreement and “bring all our dear hostages home.”
The Palestinian Authority, which lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007 but still manages civil affairs in parts of the West Bank, also welcomed the deal. President Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the agreement “would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution,” and commended Trump and all mediators for their efforts. The Authority affirmed its readiness to work with international partners to achieve stability and a lasting peace, “in accordance with international law.”
From the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres praised the “diplomatic efforts” of the United States and regional actors including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, calling the deal a “desperately needed breakthrough.” He pledged that the UN “will support the full implementation of the agreement & will scale up the delivery of sustained & principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery & reconstruction efforts in Gaza.” Guterres also urged all parties “to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.”
The diplomatic ripples extended even further. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Trump to congratulate him, stating, “Spoke to my friend, President Trump and congratulated him on the success of the historic Gaza peace plan. Also reviewed the good progress achieved in trade negotiations. Agreed to stay in close touch over the coming weeks.” Modi also publicly praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and called for enhanced humanitarian assistance to Gaza, expressing hope that the agreement “will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace.”
Other global leaders and organizations chimed in. The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, called the deal “a significant breakthrough, and a real chance to end the war and release all the hostages,” pledging EU support for its implementation. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani went so far as to say Italy is “ready to send troops if an international peacekeeping force is created to reunify Palestine.”
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, captured the cautious optimism felt by many: “It is good news, and we are very happy. It is a first step, the first phase. Of course, there are many others, and surely there will be other obstacles. But now we have to rejoice about this important step that will bring a little more trust for the future and also bring new hope, especially to the people, both Israeli and Palestinians.”
China’s foreign ministry expressed hope for a “permanent and comprehensive” ceasefire, emphasizing that “Palestinians should govern Palestine.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled cautious optimism, while French President Macron reiterated France’s commitment to a two-state solution, declaring, “This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution.”
Elsewhere, leaders from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, Turkey, and Argentina all welcomed the deal, many singling out Trump’s role as pivotal. Argentine President Javier Milei announced that he would “sign the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to international peace.”
Yet, even amid the celebrations, sobering reminders persisted. More than 67,000 Palestinians, including 20,000 children, have been killed in Israeli offensives over the past two years, according to Indian and UK officials. The work ahead—rebuilding Gaza, ensuring the safe return of hostages, and building trust between bitter rivals—remains daunting.
Still, for the first time in years, the possibility of a durable peace no longer feels like a distant dream. As world leaders, aid organizations, and ordinary citizens alike absorb the news, the task now is to turn this fragile agreement into lasting change—one step, one negotiation, one act of goodwill at a time.
