Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day truce mediated by Qatar that will see the release of 50 women and children held captive in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails.

The deal was announced today, Wednesday, and the starting time is expected to be confirmed within the next 24 hours, according to a statement from Qatar.

The agreement also includes desperately needed humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

Along with the United Nations, many countries hailed the deal and The primary responses can be summarized as follows:

China

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning

The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed hopes that the move “will help alleviate the plight of the humanitarian crisis, promote the de-escalation of conflicts, and ease tensions”.

European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

“The European Commission will do its utmost to use this pause for a humanitarian surge to Gaza,” Von der Leyen said in a statement.

Egypt

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Egypt hailed the success of the mediation it conducted alongside Qatar and the United States in brokering a “humanitarian truce” in the Gaza Strip.

France

Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna

Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna stated: “We hope that there will be French people among the first batch of hostages to be released.”

Palestine

PLO Executive Committee Secretary Hussein al-Sheikh

“President Mahmoud Abbas and the leadership welcome the humanitarian truce agreement, appreciate the Egyptian [and] Qatari effort that has been exerted.”

The PLO statement called “for a comprehensive cessation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people” and reiterated the need for “humanitarian aid.

Russia

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov

The Kremlin hailed the agreement as the “first good news for a long time”.

“Russia and most countries in the world have been calling for a ceasefire and for a humanitarian pause. Because it is only on the basis of these kinds of pauses that some outlines of future attempts at a sustainable settlement can be built,” Peskov said.

Saudi Arabia

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

“Humanitarian aid should be sustained and expanded, and it should not later become contingent on further hostage releases,” said Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

“Punishing the civilian population of Gaza for the holding of those hostages is absolutely not acceptable,” he added.

Turkiye

President Tayyip Erdogan

He said efforts must be made to ensure a ceasefire, deliver sufficient aid to Gaza and rebuild the city using economic, political and diplomatic means.

United Kingdom

Foreign Minister David Cameron

Cameron stated that the pause was a “crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“I urge all parties to ensure the agreement is delivered in full,” Cameron said.

United States

President Joe Biden

Biden welcomed the deal and thanked Qatar and Egypt for their efforts to secure the agreement.