Gaza truce announcement brings joy but caution lingers

Both jubilant and cautious reactions began trickling in from Gaza moments after a ceasefire deal had been announced by United States President Donald Trump on Oct 9.

As reported by Middle East news outlets, and seen on social media platform, X, Palestinian media workers in press vests walked through the pitch-black streets in Gaza and announced that a ceasefire had been reached.

Emotional crowds rejoiced over the news of the peace agreement, which will grant Palestinians peace for the first time since March when negotiations with Israel broke down, resulting in further violence.

UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder posted a video where he could be seen talking in the dark, saying that the skies over Gaza were "incredibly quiet" after Trump's announcement. Elder was in Gaza when news came in the middle of the night.

The White House also posted a video on its X account showing some of the hostage families speaking with President Trump on speaker phone and thanking him for his efforts. "The hostages will be coming back by Monday," Trump said on the call.

As part of the deal, Hamas agreed to release all living hostages within 72 hours, and all the deceased hostages it can locate, according to the Times of Israel. Trump hailed the ceasefire as "a great day for Israel and the world" and told Channel 12 news over the phone that he was likely to visit Israel in the coming days and deliver a speech at the Knesset.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among those who first welcomed the announcement of the long-awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In a post on X, Guterres said he welcomed the truce proposal US President Donald Trump had put forward and that he commends the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye in brokering the "desperately needed breakthrough".

"I urge all concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement," Guterres said. "All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once & for all. Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end."

The UN chief also said that his agency "will support the full implementation of the agreement", and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, as well as advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

"I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, leading to a two-state solution to enable Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace & security. The stakes have never been higher," Guterres said.

Guterres emphasized that the situation for Palestinians in Gaza "is beyond description, beyond atrocious & beyond inhumane" and that "we cannot allow this situation to continue".

Immediately after the announcement, a statement was published by Hamas on Telegram, saying it had "submitted lists of Palestinian prisoners" to Israel "according to the criteria agreed upon in the [ceasefire] agreement", Al Jazeera reported.

Hamas said it is now "awaiting final agreement on the names" before it publicly announces them through its Prisoners' Media Office.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a post on X that "this is a morning of historic and momentous news".

"I give my full support for the agreement reached in Egypt. I express my thanks to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the negotiating team, the mediators, and all those involved in this vital effort," Herzog said, adding that the agreement "will bring moments of indescribable relief to the dear families who have not slept for 733 days".

On his X account, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hailed news of the agreement as "a great day for Israel". The Israeli government is expected to convene Thursday to approve the ceasefire agreement and "bring all our dear hostages home", according to Netanyahu.

He said with the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages "will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel".

"From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved. Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point. I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages," Netanyahu said.

The IDF also released a statement welcoming the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages. It also said the Chief of the General Staff instructed all forces to "prepare strong defences" and "be ready for any scenario".

The IDF also stated that force deployments will be carried out in accordance with the directives of the political echelon and the terms of the agreement "with responsibility and a focus on the safety of our soldiers".

Countries who have traditionally been allies of the US and Israel, but had announced their recognition of a Palestinian state, joined the chorus in congratulating Trump and the Arab mediators.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was "a much needed step towards peace" after two years of conflict and urged all parties to "respect the terms of the plan".

"Australia strongly supports the plan's commitment to denying Hamas any role in the future governance of Gaza. There is a very long road to recovery in Gaza, securing long-term peace and rebuilding the Palestinian state," Albanese said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that after years of intense suffering, "peace finally feels attainable", and called on all parties to "swiftly implement all agreed terms and to work towards a just and lasting peace".