The leaders said there’s a ‘deal on the table’ that would bring ‘an immediate and prolonged ceasefire’ in Gaza.
President Joe Biden and leaders from 17 nations are calling on Hamas to release all the remaining hostages and accept an agreement that would lead to “an immediate ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip.
“The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza, who are protected under international law, is of international concern,” the world leaders said in a joint statement on April 25.
The leaders said there’s a “deal on the table” that would bring “an immediate and prolonged ceasefire” in Gaza, and they implored Hamas to accept it.
They added that this hostage deal will also facilitate a surge of additional humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza and “lead to the credible end of hostilities” in the region.
“Gazans would be able to return to their homes and their lands with preparations beforehand to ensure shelter and humanitarian provisions,” the statement reads.
“We strongly support the ongoing mediation efforts in order to bring our people home.
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“We reiterate our call on Hamas to release the hostages, and let us end this crisis so that collectively we can focus our efforts on bringing peace and stability to the region,” it adds.
The statement was issued by President Biden and the leaders of Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom—all of which have citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The terrorist group has reportedly turned down the proposed deal.
Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told Al-Jazeera on April 26 that the group is “serious about releasing Israeli captives within the framework of an agreement” but that the deal must also include the release of Palestinian inmates in Israel.
He said that Hamas will not agree to a truce until all its demands are met, which include an end to the Israeli offensive, permission for Gaza’s displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, as well as reconstruction of Gaza, and “an end to the crippling siege” imposed on it, according to Al-Jazeera.
Hamas terrorists killed about 1,200 people and abducted over 250 hostages during their Oct. 7 attack on Israel, triggering Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza, which the Hamas-run health department said now has led to over 34,000 deaths.
More than 130 hostages are still held in Gaza as the Biden administration works on arranging another pause in the fighting in exchange for their release following a seven-day ceasefire in November 2023.
Israel also demanded the release of the hostages seized by Hamas during the Oct. 7 massacre. Still, the country made it clear that fighting in the region will continue until Hamas is eliminated from the territory.
“Israel will continue to strive to realize the objectives of the war with Hamas with full force, and leave no stone unturned to return the 133 hostages from Gaza forthwith,” Israel’s prime minister’s office previously stated.
Kos Temenes contributed to this report.
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