The Party of European Socialists welcomes the news of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas. This might be the long-expected breakthrough in the 15 months of war, which has taken the lives of nearly 50,000 people in the region and displaced over 2 million men, women, and children.
In line with what the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has said, there now needs to be rapid, unhindered & uninterrupted humanitarian access and supplies to respond to the tremendous suffering caused by this war.
Moreover, both sides must comply with the agreement. This includes a commitment to a six-week ceasefire, gradual release of hostages from both sides, a permanent ceasefire, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and a reconstruction process lasting from three to five years.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
‘‘The news of the agreement between Israel and Hamas marks the first step to peace and the safe return of loved ones separated by this war. We commend the efforts of the United Nations and the international mediators who have worked tirelessly to find common ground between both sides. We stand with all hostages and victims and reiterate our demand that the ceasefire must be sustainable and should put an end to this violence. If the agreement enters fully into force, this might be a stepping stone towards ending this war. All parties on the ground and around the world should seize the moment.’’
The PES strongly supports the peace process in the Middle East and the two-state solution as the most viable option for permanently ending the conflict.
PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck said:
‘‘After 467 days of fighting, over 2,000 Israeli deaths, and more than 47,000 Palestinian deaths, we welcome the news of a ceasefire being agreed between Israel and Hamas. The conditions of the ceasefire must be respected to ensure that the agreement is sustainable and can lead to the long-expected peace in the region. We will continue our dialogue with the progressive forces in the region, as we have been doing so far.’’
Since the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war in October 2023, the PES has closely been following developments in the region and has done several missions to the Middle East, calling for a sustainable ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.
To strengthen these efforts, PES General Secretary Giacomo Filibeck travelled to both Israel and Palestine on three separate occasions, meeting high-level representatives of Israel, Palestine, and the leadership of the PES member partners in the region.
