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Smoke rises over central Gaza on Oct. 9 as Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire under U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan. / Source: Yonhap News (UPI)

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza, calling it a potential “turning point” for peace in the Middle East.

In a statement released Thursday, the ministry said it “welcomes the agreement reached under the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan” and praised “the leading role played by President Trump as well as the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye.”

“The government hopes that all parties will faithfully implement the agreement to ensure the swift release of all hostages and improvement of the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” the statement continued. “We expect this accord to serve as a significant turning point for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.”

The ministry also reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to ongoing international efforts to promote regional peace, saying, “We will continue to actively participate in the global community’s efforts to advance peace in the Middle East, including the realization of a two-state solution.”