The leaders of 17 countries, including Portugal and Brazil, called on Hamas this Thursday to accept the ceasefire agreement announced by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and release the hostages held in Gaza.
“There is no time to waste. We call on Hamas to conclude this agreement, with which Israel is ready to move forward, and begin the process of releasing our citizens,” they said in a joint statement released in London and Washington.
The joint declaration is signed by Germany, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Spain, United States, France, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania Poland, Serbia and Thailand.
In the text, they said they were “deeply concerned about the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza”, including citizens of the 17 countries, and expressed support for the agreement released by Biden on May 31.
“We note that this agreement would lead to an immediate ceasefire and the rehabilitation of Gaza, along with security guarantees for Israelis and Palestinians and opportunities for a more durable long-term peace and a of two states”, they stated.
They called on “the leaders of Israel and Hamas to make the final commitments necessary to close this deal.”
The conclusion of the agreement will allow “to provide relief to the families of our hostages, as well as to people on both sides of this terrible conflict, including civilian populations”, said the leaders.
“It is time for the war to end and this agreement is the necessary starting point”, they added.
The war was triggered by an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian extremist group on Israeli soil, on October 7, 2023, which caused the deaths of around 1,200 people, according to Israel.
Of the 252 people of various nationalities abducted during the attack, 121 remain detained in Gaza, 37 of whom have died, according to Israeli authorities.
In response to the attack, Israel promised to destroy Hamas and launched an offensive against the Gaza Strip that has already caused more than 36,600 deaths, according to the government of the enclave, controlled by the extremist group since 2007.
Biden announced a roadmap to achieve a permanent ceasefire in phases and subject to conditions.
The first phase involves a six-week ceasefire, accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from the densely populated areas of Gaza, the release of certain hostages, women and patients, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The general lines of the second phase of the plan will be negotiated during the ceasefire, according to the President of the United States.
In the event of conclusive negotiations, the fighting definitively ceases, all hostages, including soldiers, return home and the Israeli army completely withdraws from the Gaza Strip.
