Statement by President Higgins on ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas
Date: Wed 15th Jan, 2025 | 20:33
"The announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement will be welcomed by all those in a region where a war has been causing such suffering for the last 15 months.
A huge price in human life has been paid, initially by those in Israel who suffered horrific murder, assault and kidnapping, followed by a response which has led to horrific loss of life and the devastation of the space of those living in Gaza, the majority of the victims of which have been women and children.
This is an agreement which will be welcomed by those at the edge of survival itself.
The agreement has been anxiously awaited by the families who have had to wait since the attacks by Hamas on 7th October 2023 for news on the wellbeing of their relatives who had been taken hostage. In some cases, the coming days may bring news of the death of family members which will be a matter of the deepest grief.
All those in Gaza who have mourned their relatives or who are searching in the rubble for news of their relatives will equally have welcomed this ceasefire.
Most importantly, this agreement must be utilised to deliver the massive scale up in humanitarian aid which is urgently needed to save more lives.
It is important that all remaining hostages are released and that all phases of the agreement are fully implemented.
All those concerned in the international community will want to thank those who have participated in arriving at this point for their patience and commitment to bringing an end to the terrible suffering.
It is to be hoped that today's agreement will not only bring an end to the horrific loss of life and destruction which has taken place, but that it will also be the beginning of a meaningful discussion and sustained diplomatic initiative from the international community to bring a lasting peace and security to Israel, Palestine and the greater region - a peace for which so many have hoped for so long.
This will be a difficult road, but a road that must be traveled if those who have suffered on both sides are to envision a future of security and peace."