South Korea Thursday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, which was reached on Wednesday.

The foreign ministry of South Korea said in a statement that the government of South Korea welcomes the agreement regarding the ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, and highly appreciates the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt, which played a vital role in the conclusion of the agreement.

"We hope that the full and swift implementation of the agreement will lead to the release of all hostages and improvement of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. We hope that the positive momentum created by the agreement will serve as a foundation for renewed discussions on diplomatic solutions for peace and stability in the region," the statement noted.

As a non permanent member of the UN Security Council, South Korea will continue to take part in international efforts to restore and promote peace in the Middle East, it added.

The joint mediation efforts carried out by the State of Qatar, in cooperation with Egypt and the United States, successfully led to an agreement between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners and detainees. The agreement is set to take effect next Sunday.
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