SANAA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of supporters of Yemen's Houthi group rallied Friday in the capital, Sanaa, to celebrate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, calling it a victory for Palestinians.

The truce, announced Thursday, is the first step in a U.S.-backed 20-point peace plan. Under the initial phase, Israel is expected to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of all hostages.

A statement read at the rally and broadcast on the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV described the cease-fire as a win for Hamas, while warning the group would "remain on high alert should Israel violate the agreement."

Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi later appeared on Al-Masirah praising Hezbollah and Iran for supporting the Palestinian cause. He said the Houthis have taken on a larger role in resisting "U.S. and Israeli influence" and claimed the group had launched 1,835 missiles and drones at Israeli cities and Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea since the Gaza war began two years ago.

He said dozens of ships were damaged and four sunk, framing the attacks as solidarity with Palestinians.

The Houthi-run health ministry said this week that U.S., British, and Israeli airstrikes on northern Yemen since November 2023 have killed 319 people and wounded 1,357, most of them civilians. Enditem