The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, describing it as a critical step toward lasting peace in the Middle East.
The agreement was announced late Wednesday by former U.S. President Donald Trump. In a post on his X handle on Thursday, Dr Tedros expressed optimism that all parties involved would honour the terms of the deal to end civilian suffering and facilitate the safe return of hostages.
“I welcome @POTUS’s announcement about the ceasefire in #Gaza and the planned release of hostages. It is indeed a major step toward lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. I hope all parties will respect the agreement so that the suffering of civilians ends and hostages are safely brought home,” he wrote.
Dr Tedros also assured that WHO was ready to ramp up medical support for patients in Gaza and assist in rebuilding the war-damaged health infrastructure. “WHO stands ready to scale up its work to meet the urgent health needs across Gaza and to support the rehabilitation of the destroyed health system. The best medicine is peace,” he added.
According to Trump, both parties have signed off on the first phase of a peace plan, which follows a 20-point framework for Gaza unveiled last month by former U.S. President Joe Biden. The agreement, expected to be formalised in Egypt, includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel and an influx of humanitarian aid after more than two years of conflict that began with Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel in October 2023.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said, “Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our peace plan. This means that all hostages will be released soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”
The Israeli military has indicated readiness to begin troop withdrawals from designated parts of Gaza under the agreement. As part of the first phase, Hamas is expected to release 20 living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners within 72 hours of the deal taking effect.
The ceasefire deal has raised hopes for a de-escalation of hostilities and a humanitarian breakthrough in the war-torn region.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to take stronger diplomatic measures…
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero Federal…
France have secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after…
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of deliberately keeping…
The Plateau State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called on the…
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has condemned the recent terrorist attack on…