International heads of state urge both sides to seize the moment after 15 months of bloodshed

Leaders around the world have welcomed the news that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal after 15 months of bloodshed in Gaza and urged both sides to seize the moment to bring an end to the conflict and to the accompanying humanitarian crisis.

The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said that member states stood ready to support the implementation of the deal and “scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer”.