President Nangolo Mbumba has expressed the hope that the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas will open a new opportunity for lasting peace in the Middle East.

The ceasefire was announced by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed Bin Abdul-Rahman al-Thani, on Wednesday.

The ceasefire, which comes into effect on Sunday, would see the pausing of fighting in the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, while Hamas is to embark on a phased release of all hostages.

Israel's Cabinet is yet to vote on the deal, while Hamas, on the other hand, has indicated that the ceasefire meets the conditions it set out, including the return of displaced people to their homes and the possibility of ending the war permanently.

Consistent with his calls for peace in the Middle East, President Mbumba described the ceasefire as an extremely significant and overdue moment for the occupied people of Gaza who have endured agonising misery. 

The Head of State recalls the gruesome atrocities leading to the loss of innocent lives, untold destruction of civilian infrastructure, and flagrant violations of international humanitarian law since the 7th of October 2023, when the bombing started.

Thus, he says, the complete ceasefire is an opportunity for the people of Gaza to return to their land and start the process of rebuilding and reconstructing it.