(MENAFN) EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed the bloc’s willingness on Monday to "do its part" in advancing the Gaza ceasefire initiative. She also pledged to relaunch a civilian mission tasked with monitoring the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Kallas stated via the US social media platform X that "the peace plan requires strong international backing to succeed" and emphasized that the EU "stands ready to do its part."

She confirmed that the civilian mission would resume on Wednesday to oversee the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Kallas remarked that achieving peace in Gaza could be "extraordinarily complex." However, she highlighted the potential for the civilian mission to serve an "important role" in supporting the ceasefire's implementation.

She further described the current situation as "a rare moment of hope in the Middle East," praising the release of hostages as "a major success for diplomacy and a crucial milestone toward peace."

Kallas credited "(US) President (Donald) Trump" with making this breakthrough possible.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced early Monday the commencement of the release process for Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, part of the broader ceasefire agreement.

The Israeli military confirmed on X that seven hostages had been freed and were being escorted back to Israel by army personnel and agents from the Shin Bet security service.

A broadcaster reported that these seven hostages were transferred to ICRC teams.

On Wednesday, Trump revealed that Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas had agreed to the initial phase of his 20-point ceasefire plan.

This agreement entails the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The first phase of this plan began on Friday.

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