Husam Zomlot – a diplomat and economist who has served as head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK since 2018 – posted on social media following reports from Qatar, and told followers the world will also “see the magnitude of Israel’s criminal and genocidal aggression”.
The deal follows weeks of negotiations in the Qatari capital.
Three officials from the US and one from Hamas confirmed that a deal had been reached, while Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said details are still being ironed out.
READ MORE: What are the terms of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal? See the phases
Zomlot wrote: “We breathe a huge sigh of relief that a ceasefire deal has finally been reached after 15 months of mass murder and total devastation in Gaza. The world will see the magnitude of Israel’s criminal and genocidal aggression.
“It will see the price of the collective failure to stop a genocide.
“Now let the journey of healing begin, starting with burying our dead, attending to our wounded, providing for basic human needs and rebuilding livelihoods.
“The world must not fail us again.”
The deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
It will also allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes and allow the devastated territory access to badly needed humanitarian aid.
In February last year, Zomlot posted a widely-shared and distressing photograph of the body of a young girl hanging from a building in the wake of an airstrike.
He identified the girl as his wife’s seven-year-old cousin Sidra Hassouna and said several other family members were also killed in the attack.