EU Parliament Chief Urges Full Implementation of Gaza Ceasefire

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has emphasized the critical importance of complete implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, urging all parties to fully adhere to the terms established in the recently approved truce. Addressing the Riga Conference in Latvia on Friday, Metsola characterized the agreement as "a moment for peace and renewal in the Middle East" that could potentially terminate "the intergenerational cycle of violence, of suffering and terror that has plagued the region."

Metsola stressed that the ceasefire "must be respected and it must be thoroughly implemented," while explicitly welcoming the agreement's establishment. The European Parliament president's comments reflect the European Union's institutional support for the diplomatic breakthrough while acknowledging the challenges inherent in translating the agreement from paper to sustainable reality on the ground. Her statement aligns with broader European calls for durable resolution to the conflict.

The Israeli government formally approved the comprehensive agreement to conclude military operations in Gaza and facilitate prisoner exchanges with Palestinian factions, according to an early Friday statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. Israeli media outlets reported the ceasefire took immediate effect following governmental approval, initiating the implementation process for the 20-point framework originally presented by US President Donald Trump on September 29, which includes prisoner exchanges, permanent ceasefire establishment, and phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.

The second phase of the agreement outlines establishment of new governance mechanisms in Gaza excluding Hamas participation, creation of Palestinian-Arab security forces, and Hamas disarmament alongside reconstruction funded primarily by Arab and Islamic nations. While Arab and Muslim countries have generally welcomed the initiative, numerous officials have noted that many implementation details require further negotiation. The agreement emerges after extensive hostilities that have resulted in approximately 67,200 Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction throughout the coastal territory.