PH welcomes Israel-Hamas peace plan

The Philippines on Friday welcomed the United States-backed peace plan between Israel and Hamas, calling it a "monumental step" to end the war in Gaza.

Manila, however, said it hopes this initial step will bring about "long-term peace and stability" in the Middle East, home to 2 million Filipinos and where thousands of seafarers sail through.

"We welcome this breakthrough and congratulate the peacemakers. The persistent diplomatic efforts by the mediators – the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey – bringing about the necessary pause in the hostilities and securing the release of hostages," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump, would see the release of remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, while Israel will free thousands of Palestinian prisoners, withdrawal of Israeli troops and entry of much-needed humanitarian aid into the Palestine enclave.

This development, Manila said, "represents a monumental step towards de-escalation and breathes fresh hopes for all those affected in the region, especially the hostages and the people in Gaza."

The Philippines was among the countries that joined the growing international clamor for Israel to immediately cease its devastating attacks on Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, and has set off a starvation crisis.

It has consistently pushed for a "two-State solution," saying it is "the only viable diplomatic solution for sustainable peace."

The armed conflict in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages.

Israel’s offensives in Gaza since October 2023 has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, triggering alarm and anger from many countries, including Israel's former supporters, such as France and the United Kingdom, who now both recognize Palestine as a state.

The first phase of the deal was signed Thursday by Israel and Hamas in Egypt, with Trump announcing Israeli hostages may be released Monday or Tuesday. —AOL, GMA Integrated News