“I believe that this preliminary ceasefire agreement and cessation of hostilities is vital, and I wanted to acknowledge and hope that, on one hand, the humanitarian corridor, the restoration of that humanitarian aspect, is vital to protect the most vulnerable in that horrific theater of war that has prevailed in recent times in the Middle East,” said José Luís Carneiro to journalists at the start of a campaign event for the local elections in Porto.
For the PS leader, it is “very important” to ensure “the release of all hostages.”
“It is very important to reiterate that the recognition of the Palestinian state must also come from another premise, which is the right to security on the part of Israel. Therefore, it is in the reconciliation of these wills that the Portuguese state has been and must continue to be,” he emphasized.
Israel and Hamas announced on Wednesday night a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, the first phase of a peace plan proposed by the United States President, Donald Trump, following indirect negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Turkey.
This phase of the truce involves the partial withdrawal of the Israeli army to the so-called “yellow line” demarcated by the United States, a dividing line between Israel and Gaza, the release of 20 hostages in Hamas’s possession, and 1,950 Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire aims to end two years of war in Gaza, triggered by attacks on Israel led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which caused about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
Israel’s retaliation has already resulted in more than 67,000 deaths and about 170,000 injuries, mostly civilians, according to data from the Gaza Ministry of Health (controlled by Hamas), which the UN considers credible.
