After a lot of back and forth, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and lead to the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The mediating countries; the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have pledged to fully implement all three phases of the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal.

The mediators from the three countries will work jointly “to help ensure that all three of its stages will be fully implemented by both parties.”

However, amid the celebrations and statements welcoming the ceasefire agreement, a word of caution has been given.

US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin noted that deal was reached “after months of determined diplomacy,” while cautioning that it “must be implemented rigorously.”

He asserted in a statement that the deal “can open a new window of hope for Israelis and Palestinians after the months of bloodshed and anguish that followed Hamas’s despicable terrorist assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.”

Austin also recognized that for all those killed in the war, and their families, this deal “has come too late.”

“The Department again offers our deepest condolences to the families of all of our American citizens killed in this harrowing war, and it renews today our unstinting commitment to bring home the Americans still being held in Gaza and to finally return the remains of our slain fellow citizens to their mourning families.”
Lloyd Austin

Looking to the future, Austin said, “After these months of terror and trauma, we recommit ourselves today to move toward a more hopeful, secure, and just future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

“Israelis and Palestinians need not be doomed to eternal conflict, and with leadership and wisdom, we can make progress toward the day when Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security in two sovereign states, with mutual security and dignity.”
Lloyd Austin

European leaders expressed hope that the first phase of the deal reached between Hamas and Israel could lead to prolonged peace.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the deal “must now be implemented to the letter,” adding, “This ceasefire opens the door to a permanent end to the war and to the improvement of the poor humanitarian situation in Gaza.”

As news of the ceasefire deal emerged, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an X post, “The agreement must be respected. The hostages, freed. The Gazans, rescued. A political solution must be found.”

Kirby Says Focus Should Be On Hostage Release

Meanwhile, White House National Security Communications Adviser, John Kirby downplayed the back-and-forth on who deserves credit for the ceasefire and hostage deal, arguing that focus should be on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

“There’s an awful lot of credit here to go around. I don’t think that the hostages and their families are worried about who’s claiming or grabbing credit here, the President doesn’t want the focus to be on who’s claiming or grabbing credit, he wants the focus to be on the implementation of the deal.”
John Kirby

Earlier US President Joe Biden praised the incoming Trump administration for its participation in the ceasefire deal during remarks from the White House but appeared to dismiss suggestions that Trump deserves credit for the agreement.

Kirby pointed out the real challenge is ensuring the successful execution of the deal – a task that will fall to the incoming Trump administration.

“That’s where the real hard work is going to come now that it’s been put into place, and we know, as the President said, it’s the next team that’s going to have to do that implementing so it was important to him that we approached this as a team.”
John Kirby