Former President Obama on Thursday praised the announcement of the first phase of a peace deal brokered between Israel and Hamas following two years of war in Gaza.
“After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight; that those hostages still being held will be reunited with their families; and that vital aid can start reaching those inside Gaza whose lives have been shattered,” Obama said in a post on the social platform X.
“More than that, though, it now falls on Israelis and Palestinians, with the support of the U.S. and the entire world community, to begin the hard task of rebuilding Gaza – and to commit to a process that, by recognizing the common humanity and basic rights of both peoples, can achieve a lasting peace,” concluded the former president.
Obama’s statement did not mention President Trump, who announced the ceasefire between both sides Wednesday.
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!” he said in a post on Truth Social.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement minutes later. “With God’s help we will bring them all home,” he said, referring to the hostages, living and dead, held by Hamas.
Last week, the president released a 20-point peace plan with proposals including Israel’s release of 250 prisoners sentenced to life in prison and a Trump-led international “board of peace” to govern and rebuild the Gaza Strip.
Since Trump returned to the White House, Obama has spoken out about the war in Gaza. In July, Obama called for action in response to reports of starvation in the Palestinian territory.
“While a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gaza must involve a return of all hostages and a cessation of Israel’s military operations, these articles underscore the immediate need for action to be taken to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation,” Obama wrote in a post on X, which linked to two New York Times articles.
Around the same time, Trump also talked with reporters about starvation in Gaza. He claimed that Hamas stole food meant for the Palestinians, a remark that Israel’s military said there was no proof of, The New York Times reported.
Source: The Hill
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