Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today welcomed the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas for the Gaza Strip, expressing hope that the agreement could lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Abbas "welcomed US President Donald Trump's announcement of an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip" and "expressed hope that these efforts will be a prelude to a lasting political solution leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," the Palestinian president's office said in a statement.
Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas reached an agreement last night on the first phase of the US president's plan to achieve peace in the Gaza Strip after two years of war. The agreement is expected to be formally signed today.
On the other hand, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, said he would vote against a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would include the release of Gaza hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
"There is enormous fear of the consequences of emptying prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders," wrote Smotrič, a representative of the far-right in Israel, on the X platform.
"For this reason alone, we cannot participate in short-term celebrations or vote for this agreement," Smotrič added.
Netanyahu has called a meeting of his cabinet for today.
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