World leaders react to Israel-Hamas cease-fire, pledge to rebuild

Al-Monitor Staff

May 21, 2021

A Palestinian man walks in a neighborhood hit by Israeli bombardment in Gaza City, after a ceasefire brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas, on May 21, 2021. — A Palestinian man walks in a neighborhood hit by Israeli bombardment in Gaza City, after a cease-fire brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas, on May 21, 2021. — MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

World leaders praised the cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which ended 11 days of hostilities, but say now is the time for the two sides to build on the agreement for a lasting peace.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the cease-fire, tweeting, “Israeli and Palestinian leaders have a responsibility beyond the restoration of calm to start a serious dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict.”