European and Middle Eastern leaders have welcomed a US peace plan for Gaza, as President Donald Trump warned Hamas to accept it.
The plan, agreed by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an immediate end to fighting, the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, as well as the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
Hamas officials have been given the 20-point plan, a Palestinian source told the BBC.
The plan also says Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza, and leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state, but Netanyahu later again ruled this out.
Speaking at Monday’s news conference at the White House, Trump called the plan “a historic day for peace”.
But he said Netanyahu would have US backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas” if Hamas did not agree to the plan.
Netanyahu then said Israel “will finish the job” if Hamas rejects the plan or does not follow through.
In a video statement shortly afterwards, Netanyahu reinstated his longstanding opposition to a Palestinian state.
“It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state,” he said.
He also said the peace plan would allow the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to stay in Gaza, contrary to the text of the proposal published by the White House.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has called the US president’s efforts “sincere and determined”.
In a statement published by its Wafa news agency, the PA said it “renews its joint commitment to work with the United States, regional states, and partners” to end the war in Gaza, ensure sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the release of hostages and prisoners.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan said they welcomed Trump’s “leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza”.
They said they were ready to engage with the US to finalise and implement the agreement, which they said should lead to a “two-state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state”.
Read Also:
- Israeli military orders Gaza City residents to evacuate ahead of ground assault
- Gaza City evacuation inevitable, Israeli army tells Palestinians
- European leaders back ‘realistic’ Arab plan for Gaza
European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “encouraged by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s positive response” to the proposal.
He added that “all parties must seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance”.
The proposal, if followed, would begin with the immediate cessation of military operations. It also says existing “battle lines” would be frozen in place until conditions are met for a staged withdrawal.
Hamas would lay down its arms, and its tunnels and weapon production facilities would be destroyed.
For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 dead Gazans, the plan says.
The plan also stipulates that once both sides agree to the proposal, “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip”.
The US also outlines its plan for the future governance of Gaza.
It says a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” will govern temporarily, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, called the Board of Peace, which it says will be headed by Trump.
Former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair will be part of the governing body alongside other leaders “to be announced”.
Sir Tony called the plan “bold and intelligent”.
