US President Donald Trump issued a “20-point” plan seeking to achieve the Gaza peace end-goal on Monday (US time). The 79-year-old American leader, reiterating his stance as a ‘peacemaker,’ suggested that he was “very close” to ending the nearly two-year conflict that has resulted in a devastating death toll across borders. Trump’s declaration was published while during a meet-up between and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As part of his decision, the MAGA leader warned to allow the Israeli military to carry out its continued action unless Hamas bows to the proposal, which includes releasing all hostages and demilitarising Gaza. Although the group has yet to agree to it, Netanyahu has given his full support to Trump’s plan.
Netanyahu on Trump’s Gaza peace plan
“All our hostages, both those who are alive and those who died, all of them will return home immediately. Hamas will be disarmed. Gaza will be demilitarised,” said the Israeli PM during a joint news conference. With the Israeli security cabinet signing off on the proposal, Netanyahu added, “Israel will retain security responsibility, including a security perimeter for the foreseeable future. And lastly, Gaza will have a peaceful civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority.”
He still reiterated, “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself,” after the meeting.
Netanyahu’s positive response follows days after he fully dismissed the notion of a Palestinian state, calling it “sheer madness” at the United Nations. Meanwhile, a reformed Palestinian Authority is believed to be part of Trump’s 20-point announcement despite it having been ruled out as per a previous August approval of war goals.
This time, however, the Trump administration has recognised “a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.” And yet, Palestinian statehood still remains a big if, as the US government has merely acknowledged the possibility of such a change not fully admitted to greenlighting its existence.
Gaza peace plan: PM Modi reacts
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X: “We welcome President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region. We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace.”
8 nations release joint statement on Gaza peace plan
Eight major nations defined by Muslim-majority welcomed Trump’s pointers, hailing them as “sincere efforts” for mapping out a potential peace pathway. Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, The United Arab Emirates and Egypt issued a joint statement, expressing their faith in Trump’s “ability to find a path towards peace.”
They also hailed the US leader’s last week statement about refusing Israel’s plans to annex the West Bank. Acknowledging their willingness to commit to any role necessary for the agreement to take off, they welcomed the plan’s ability to create “a path for a just peace on the basis of a two-state solution.”
The Palestinian Authority on Gaza peace plan: Akin to the other eight nations’ joint statement, the PA notably highlighted the POTUS’ “sincere and determined efforts.” Their statement further noted the plan would “ensure the unification of Palestinian land …end the occupation and open the path toward a just peace based on the two-state solution, with the independent and sovereign State of Palestine living side by side with the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighborliness, in accordance with international legitimacy.”
Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad counters
Condemning the war plan, Islamic Jihad slammed it as a “recipe for regional explosion. Its Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah claimed that the 20-point plan was merely a way for Israel to get what it had been unable to crack so far through war.
The statement read: “What was announced at the press conference between Trump and (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) is an American-Israeli agreement, an expression of Israel’s entire position, and a recipe for continued aggression against the Palestinian people.”
European leader gives a thumbs-up to Trump’s Gaza plan
While French President Emmanuel Macron praised Trump committed efforts to ending the war and the potential release of hostages, his expectations counted on Israel to “engage resolutely on this basis.” Sending a message to Hamas as well, he added the group had no choice but to “immediately release all hostages and follow this plan.”
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer “profoundly” welcomed the plan, calling on everyone needed to make this work to agree “with the US administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality.”
More reactions will be added.