“Profoundly realizing the importance of ceasefire and hostage release when human lives and regional peace are at stake, Armenia welcomes the initiative by the leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a post on X late on Friday.
“Hopefully, a tangible outcome will be achieved during the next discussions to bring relief to suffering people,” it added.
U.S. President Joe Biden, along with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, has stepped up efforts to get Israel and Hamas back to the negotiating table for peace talks.
In a joint statement issued late Thursday, the three leaders urged the two sides to return to negotiations on August 15 “to close all remaining gaps” on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. “There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the cease-fire, and implement this agreement,” the leaders stated.
The situation in the Middle East escalated sharply last October when Hamas militants launched a sudden attack on peaceful Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip. As a result of these attacks, about 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage.
Israel retaliated by launching a military operation against Gaza, a densely populated region controlled by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
Palestinian health authorities say Israel’s ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 39,000 people, mostly civilians, and driven most of the enclave’s 2.3 million people from their homes.
Israel denies targeting civilians in its military campaign. Its government says it aims to completely clear the Gaza Strip of Hamas militants. Many countries, however, consider Israel’s retaliatory actions to be disproportionate.
Earlier this year, Armenia officially recognized the Palestinian state in a move that was strongly condemned by Israel and welcomed by the Palestinian Authority.
In its June 21 statement announcing the recognition, the Armenian Foreign Ministry pointed to the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza and Yerevan’s long-running support for a “two-state solution” to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The latest peace initiative from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar comes at a time when the Middle East faces its worst crisis in decades, with Iran threatening to deliver a retaliatory strike against Israel for the assassination of a senior Hamas leader in Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, stated that his country was prepared for “any aggression” against it.
Earlier, Israel accused the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group, backed by Iran, of being behind a rocket attack on Israeli-controlled territory that resulted in the deaths of a dozen children.
Earlier this month Armenia called on its citizens to temporarily refrain from visiting Lebanon amid an increased risk of military conflict in this Middle Eastern country. With a population of over 5.2 million, Lebanon is home to more than 150,000 ethnic Armenians, some of whom also hold Armenian citizenship.
Yerevan also advised Armenian citizens currently residing in Lebanon “to exercise maximum caution, avoid visiting regions targeted in recent days, and follow the official reports and warnings of the Lebanese authorities.”
Many nations, including the United States, Britain, and France, have advised their nationals living in Lebanon to leave the country immediately due to fears of an all-out war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, as well as a broader regional conflict.
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