A boy sits in the rubble of a UN Relief and Works Agency school in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza. Photo: UNRWA
News of a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza has been welcomed by Australian PM Anthony Albanese, other world leaders and aid organisations.
The deal is expected to take effect from Sunday, January 19 (Monday Australian time) and was announced in the Qatari capital, Doha. The deal also allows for the return of a reported 33 Israeli hostages.
Albanese welcomed the news of the deal which ends 15 months of fighting.
“Australia has consistently been part of the international call for a ceasefire and release of hostages,” he says.
He also says all parties must respect the terms of the deal, including the immediate release of all hostages and unimpeded humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
“Australia will continue working with the international community towards a two-state solution; a Palestinian state and the state of Israel, living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognised borders.”
He also says there can be no role for Hamas in any future government of Gaza.
“Any future Palestinian state must not be in a position to threaten Israel’s security,” he says.
WORLD REACTION
UN Secretary-General António Guterres commended Egypt, Qatar and the US for brokering the deal.
“Our priority must be to ease the tremendous suffering caused by this conflict,” he says, adding that the UN is ready to step up aid delivery to Gaza.
“ It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza so that we can support a major increase in urgent life-saving humanitarian support,” he says.
“The humanitarian situation is at catastrophic levels.”
US President Joe Biden says the deal was made possible by Israeli attacks on Hamas which weakened it, a ceasefire in Lebanon, a weakening of Iran and dogged diplomacy.
According to Oxfam Australia, the Israeli bombing campaign killed at least 46,000 Palestinians, left tens of thousands more missing, injured over 100,000 and displaced 1.9 million Palestinians or 90 per cent of the population.
Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s Regional Director in the Middle East and North Africa, said that this ceasefire must not only hold but lead to a permanent end to the violence.
“We are hopeful this deal will herald an end to the bloodshed,” he says.
“After more than a year of a brutal military assault and deliberate, systematic blocking of aid by Israeli authorities, this pause is long overdue. “
He says two million Palestinians are now fighting for survival.
“Our most urgent call is for immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian aid and support … the opening of all crossings for aid deliveries is vital,” Khalil says.
“Israel must allow the unhindered flow of aid and restore commercial activity to reach every corner of the besieged enclave to avert famine.
“This is critical to alleviating the suffering of displaced Palestinians and enabling the treatment of those hungry, injured and sick.”
Abi Khalil called on the UN to ensure the swift and full implementation of the ceasefire.
