Pakistan foreign minister says Trump's 20-point Gaza plan 'not ours'

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, saying the version announced in Washington was not in line with the draft proposed by a group of Muslim-majority countries.

“Those changes are not acceptable to us,” Dar told lawmakers in parliament, adding that Pakistan had submitted a revised version of the 20-point agenda before it was finalized.

Dar said Pakistan’s recent talks with Trump were aimed at pressing for a Gaza cease-fire.

“At the time of Trump’s first tweet, we were not aware that the draft had been altered,” he said.

Pakistan, he stressed, has no diplomatic relations with Israel and its position on Palestine remains unchanged since the time of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the country’s founding leader.

What's the controversy?

According to Axios, several clauses in the draft were altered before Trump unveiled the plan, including provisions on cease-fire timelines and international oversight.

Middle East Eye Editor David Hearst reported that commitments on aid, prisoner releases, and Israeli troop withdrawals were weakened between the draft agreed at the United Nations and the announcement at the White House.

Trump’s plan, released Monday, promises to end the war between Israel and Hamas and calls for the return of all hostages within 72 hours of a cease-fire.

It refers to a redeveloped “New Gaza” and envisions a transitional administration led by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair before a handover to the Palestinian Authority.

Critics note the plan does not set a timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal and sidelines Hamas.

Eight Muslim-majority nations — including Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia — initially welcomed Trump’s initiative.

But reports suggest the draft was later reshaped in consultation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Analysts have speculated that Trump hopes to fold more Muslim states into the Abraham Accords, the 2020 normalization deals between Israel and several Arab countries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a landmark meeting with Trump at the White House last week.

Pakistanis on Gaza flotilla

Dar said Pakistan is also concerned about its nationals caught up in the conflict, including those aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. Former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad was recently detained by Israeli forces, and Islamabad is working through a third country to secure his release.

“We are doing our utmost to ensure that all Pakistanis are brought back safely,” Dar said.

The Gaza war, now in its second year, erupted after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 65,000 Palestinians have since been killed.

Egypt's says plan has 'loopholes'

Egypt, one of the countries which initially welcomed the plan, has also expressed its reservations.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Thursday that Trump’s cease-fire plan contains “many loopholes” and requires further discussion on governance and security during the transitional period.

Cairo, he added, was working with Qatar and Turkey to encourage Hamas to respond positively.