Polish FM endorses US president for Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has praised US President Donald Trump's negotiating skills, describing them as successful following the release of the remaining Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas.
The comment came on Monday, hours after Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, pausing two years of war that has pummelled the Gaza Strip and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Under the deal, Israel released over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and is to allow a surge of food and aid supplies into famine-stricken Gaza. For its part, Hamas released the bodies of four out of 28 deceased Israeli captives.
"We are, both Poland and I myself, glad that the killing and destruction has ended for now, and that both the hostages and prisoners have been released," Sikorski told reporters on Monday, adding that "one has to admit that both the content and negotiating skills of President Trump have been successful."
Sikorski added that the US had used its power and its authority for the cause of peace.
The minister also said that Poland had been for years coming out in favour of a two-state solution of the Palestinian-Israeli war and condemning both the Hamas terrorism and the abuse of force by Israel in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He also declared that Poland had been supporting President Trump's peace efforts from the very beginning.
Having pointed to the fact that Palestinians had already returned to the ruins of their homes, Sikorski said that this was proof that they would not be resettled, and that the two nations of several million living in more or less the same geographical area must find a way to live side by side in dignity. "I believe that what has happened strengthens the argument for the two-state solution, which Poland supports," he said.
A gathering of world leaders, dubbed a "Summit for Peace," was held in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt on Monday under the chairmanship of the US and Egyptian presidents, aiming to create conditions for a lasting peace in Gaza.(PAP)
at/mf
