WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (KUNA) -- Outgoing US President Joe Biden welcomed Wednesday the ceasefire deal reached between the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and Israel.
"It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin," the US leader said in a statement issued by the White House.
He pointed out the agreement reached after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar.
"This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity," he pointed out.
Biden added that he had laid out the precise contours of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council.
Earlier, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani announced Hamas and the Israeli occupation have reached a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal. He added that that the deal will take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025. (end) rsr.ibi