Leaders around the world welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, with many describing it as a rare moment of hope after two years of a war that has exacted a devastating toll.
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, in a statement, described the deal as “a moment of profound relief,” that would be felt “all around the world.” Britain, he said, would back the next phase of talks aimed at securing lasting peace and restoring the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada, in a statement, congratulated President Trump “for his essential leadership” and thanked Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for their work in mediating an agreement. “After years of intense suffering, peace finally feels attainable,” Mr. Carney said.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia cautioned that “there is a very long road to recovery in Gaza, securing long term peace and building the Palestinian state.” He called the deal “a much-needed step towards peace.”
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Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, said in a statement that he would sign a nomination for Mr. Trump to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize, an award Mr. Trump has long sought.
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At the United Nations, Secretary General António Guterres said the organization fully supported the agreement and would help implement its humanitarian components. He added that “all hostages must be released in a dignified manner” and that “a permanent cease-fire must be secured.”
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President Emmanuel Macron of France in a statement said the agreement was a “great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region.” He said that the agreement “must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution.”
In Israel, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hailed the deal as “a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.”
“All of our hostages will be brought home,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement. He also thanked President Trump for “his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages.”
Hamas, in a statement, urged Mr. Trump and other guarantors to ensure Israel “fully implements the agreement’s requirements and not allow it to evade or delay.”
Mark Walker is an investigative reporter for The Times focused on transportation. He is based in Washington.
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