World leaders expressed relief and joy at the release of the last remaining 20 living hostages held by Hamas for over two years on Friday, but urged all sides to remain committed to ending the war and rebuilding the Gaza Strip.
The statements came as President Trump is convening a group of leaders from the Middle East and Europe in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to ceremoniously mark the end of the war between Israel and Hamas and endorse his 20-point plan for demilitarizing and rebuilding the strip.
“France will be involved in every stage of President Trump’s plan, alongside the Arab partners it helped mobilize,” French President Emanuel Macron said ahead of his arrival in the Red Sea resort city.
France has partnered with Saudi Arabia on laying out a pathway for establishing a Palestinian state, holding a conference at the United Nations on implementing the two state solution to resolve the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, while also issuing formal recognition of a State of Palestine.
Macron continued that “for now, let there be joy.”
Likewise, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared a deep feeling of relief at the release of Avinatan Or, a dual Israeli-British citizen who was kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova Music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, along with 250 other people. Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people in its terrorist attack on Israel and that triggered the war in Gaza.
“This is also a stark reminder of the treatment that he has been subject to at the hands of Hamas, and the atrocities that shook the world two years ago,” Starmer said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh on Friday and welcomed the release of hostages, including dual-citizens of Germany.
“Behind them lie two years of fear, pain and hope. Today, families can finally once again embrace their loved ones,” he said in a post on X.
“The hostages who were murdered must also return home, so that their families can give them a dignified farewell. This day is a start: when healing can begin and a step taken on the path to peace in the Middle East.”
The British leader added it is “crucial” to implement Trump’s peace plan.
“Commitment to this plan from all parties will be essential to ending the war and building the foundations for a sustainable path to a long-term peace. The UK will support the crucial next stage of talks to ensure the implementation of the peace plan,” he said.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said he is “profoundly relieved” by the release of the hostages held in Gaza, and reiterated a call for all the bodies of deceased hostages in the strip be handed to Israel.
Guterres further urged “all parties to build on this momentum & to honor their commitments under the ceasefire to end the nightmare in Gaza,” and said the U.N. is working to support all efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of civilians.
Gaza's Health Ministry estimates that more than 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its retaliatory war more than two years ago. The ceasefire is set to allow desperately needed food and humanitarian aid into the strip, where famine conditions have been spreading for months.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in Egypt on Friday to participate in the peace summit. The foreign minister last week participated in a meeting held in Paris to discuss the U.S. plan for rebuilding Gaza.
That meeting was attended by representatives from Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Turkey, France, Italy, UK, Germany, Spain, Canada, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas.
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