Uzbekistan welcomes hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas

Uzbekistan has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, along with the exchange of hostages. This statement was made by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Akhror Burkhanov.

Photo: Abdel Kareem / AP

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan welcomes the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of hostages. We view these agreements as a significant positive step toward de-escalating tensions and achieving the long-awaited peace in the region," said Burkhanov.

He further emphasized that Tashkent highly values the efforts of Qatar, the United States, and Egypt in facilitating the agreement and calls on all parties to fully comply with its terms.

Uzbekistan remains committed to supporting international efforts aimed at ensuring stability and security in the Middle East, Burkhanov added.

Earlier, Israel and Hamas, with mediation from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, agreed to a 42-day ceasefire starting on January 19. Both parties also expressed their intention to bring an end to the armed conflict, which, over 15 months, has resulted in the deaths of 46,000 Palestinians and around 1,500 Israelis.

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