Lagos, Radio Nigeria – Leaders across the Middle East and Europe have welcomed a United States peace initiative for Gaza, unveiled by President Donald Trump at the White House, even as uncertainties linger over its acceptance by Hamas.
The 20-point proposal, developed by President Trump in partnership with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seeks an immediate end to hostilities in Gaza.
Central to the plan is the release, within 72 hours, of 20 living Israeli hostages and the return of the remains of over two dozen others believed dead, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons.
Speaking at Monday’s news conference in Washington, President Trump described the deal as “a historic day for peace”.
He warned, however, that if Hamas rejected the agreement, the United States would fully support Israel in “finishing the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed Trump’s position, saying Israel would not hesitate to resume its campaign if Hamas failed to comply.
In a later statement, Netanyahu dismissed any possibility of a Palestinian state emerging from the plan, insisting: “It’s not written in the agreement. We strongly oppose a Palestinian state.”
Despite this, the White House text leaves open the possibility of a future Palestinian state and specifies that Hamas would play no role in governing Gaza.
Instead, a technocratic Palestinian committee, overseen by an international transitional body dubbed the “Board of Peace,” would administer the territory. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to serve on the board.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank, cautiously welcomed the initiative, calling it “sincere and determined.”
In a statement carried by its Wafa news agency, the Authority pledged to work with Washington and regional partners to end the war and secure humanitarian relief for Gaza.
From the Arab world, foreign ministers of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan issued a joint communiqué commending Trump’s “leadership and sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza.” They expressed readiness to work toward a two-state solution integrating Gaza and the West Bank.
European leaders also rallied behind the plan.
EU Council President Antonio Costa said the proposal was “encouraging”, while French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the initiative must pave the way for “in-depth discussions toward lasting peace, based on the two-state solution.” Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described it as a potential “turning point.” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged Hamas to accept the deal and end the suffering, declaring: “We call on all sides to come together and bring this agreement into reality.”
Meanwhile, Hamas officials in Doha confirmed receiving the document from Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
A senior Hamas representative told the BBC the group was open to reviewing the plan but warned: “The weapons of the resistance are a red line as long as the occupation continues.” He insisted that any final deal must guarantee an Israeli withdrawal and secure Palestinian rights.
The plan also provides for staged Israeli military withdrawals, destruction of Hamas tunnels and weapons facilities, and large-scale economic reconstruction in Gaza.
Trump stressed that Palestinians would not be forced to leave Gaza, saying instead: “We will encourage people to stay and build a better Gaza.”
The announcement comes as the Gaza death toll has risen to more than 66,000 since Israel launched its military campaign in response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages.
The proposal has triggered mixed emotions, with international leaders praising its ambition, but divisions between Netanyahu’s rejection of Palestinian statehood and Trump’s more flexible wording raising questions about the plan’s sustainability.
For now, the world watches to see whether Hamas will accept or reject what Washington calls the most serious attempt yet to halt the bloodshed in Gaza.