World leaders on Thursday (Oct 9) welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, which could help end the two-year war in Gaza.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for all hostages to be released "in a dignified manner" and for a permanent ceasefire to be secured.

"I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognising the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security," he said.

"The stakes have never been higher."

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said he hoped that the deal "would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution", leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who led the UK to be among the first few countries to formally recognise a Palestinian state, praised the "tirel...