Today is a day of relief. Relief that the suffering on all sides can now end. The agreement on the release of the hostages and the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will not only save lives but give people in Gaza, the hostages and their families, as well as everyone in the region, tangible hope after 15 months. And it shows how important it is to never lose faith in diplomacy – even in the darkest hours.

In particular, my thoughts are with the German nationals who have endured the unimaginable at the hands of Hamas for the last 467 days, and I fervently hope that they will now be able to return home to their families very soon.

I would like to thank our partners and the negotiators who worked tirelessly to bring about a ceasefire and negotiated the agreement to the end.

I call on all sides to respect the provisions of the agreement. The hostages must be released quickly and in accordance with its terms. Humanitarian assistance must be provided on a massive scale to those suffering in Gaza. Likewise, the military withdrawal and the return of Palestinians to their homes must be implemented.

The atrocious terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel plunged the region into chaos. Too many people have lost their lives, too many mothers have had to bear the deaths of their children. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed during Israel’s military operation. Gaza lies in ruins.

The people of Gaza lack everything – food, medical care and emergency accommodation. The Israeli Government must now finally honour its pledges and allow safe access for humanitarian goods and aid workers – without any restrictions. Germany stands ready to continue providing extensive support to UN organisations on the ground.

The ceasefire can be the first step towards a genuine political process – and the opportunity to ensure that the many elements for lasting peace which we have developed together with partners in the region during the last few months can be put into practice. We cannot let this opportunity slip through our fingers. A negotiated two-state solution remains the only solution which will enable both Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, security and dignity.

Germany continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with all those working for peace and security in the region.