Australian political leaders welcome Gaza peace deal
'This is a much needed step towards peace,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong say in a joint statement
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas to implement the first phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, saying it represents “a much needed step towards peace” after more than two years of conflict.
Trump announced the breakthrough on his Truth Social platform on Thursday morning AEDT, saying the agreement represented “a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America”.
“After more than two years of conflict, hostages held and a devastating loss of civilian life, this is a much needed step towards peace,” Albanese and Wong said in a joint statement.
“Australia has consistently been part of international calls for a ceasefire, return of the hostages, and the unimpeded flow of aid to Gaza. We urge all parties to respect the terms of the plan.”
The government thanked Trump for his diplomatic efforts and acknowledged the important role of Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye in delivering the agreement.
comments