Paris, October 10 (QNA) - The leaders of France, the United Kingdom (UK), and Germany have welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, appreciating the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, Turkiye, and the United States in achieving this agreement, which represents a first step toward implementing the peace plan and ending the war in the Strip.

French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz commended, in a joint statement Friday, the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip reached last Thursday between Israel and Hamas, and the planned release of prisoners and hostages.

The leaders called on all parties to fully implement the agreement without delay, affirming their commitment to supporting humanitarian aid packages through United Nations agencies for delivery as soon as the ceasefire comes into effect.

The US President announced last Thursday that Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had signed the first phase of the peace plan, expressing his gratitude to the mediators from the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkiye.

The agreement entered into force at noon Friday, as part of the first phase of US President Donald Trump's initiative to end the war in the Gaza Strip. (QNA)