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Muslim nations welcome Hamas’ response to Trump’s Gaza plan

Eight Muslim nations, including Pakistan, hailed Hamas’ move as key to ending Gaza’s suffering

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Muslim nations welcome Hamas’ response to Trump’s Gaza plan

Four Israeli female soldiers, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev, are released by Hamas fighters as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, January 25, 2025.

Reuters/File

Eight Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan, on Sunday welcomed Hamas’ conditional acceptance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza and begin negotiations for peace and reconstruction.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt said Hamas’ announcement marked a significant step toward ending hostilities and addressing Gaza’s dire humanitarian crisis.

They welcomed the steps taken by Hamas regarding Trump’s proposal to halt the fighting, release all hostages — alive or deceased — and immediately begin talks on implementing the plan.

The ministers also expressed appreciation for Trump’s “commitment to establishing peace in the region,” and backed his call for Israel to stop bombing Gaza and start implementing the exchange agreement.

“These developments represent a real opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, and to address the critical humanitarian conditions facing people in Gaza Strip,” the joint statement read.

The ministers further noted Hamas’ readiness to hand over Gaza’s administration to a transitional Palestinian Administrative Committee of independent technocrats. They emphasized the need for the immediate launch of negotiations to finalize implementation mechanisms for Trump’s peace proposal.

They reaffirmed their collective commitment to support all efforts toward ending the war and achieving a comprehensive agreement ensuring unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, preventing the displacement of Palestinians, and protecting civilian lives.

The statement also called for the release of hostages, the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, and unifying Gaza and the West Bank under one governance framework.

The ministers urged the creation of a security mechanism that guarantees safety for all sides, leads to full Israeli withdrawal, and enables Gaza’s reconstruction — paving the way for a just peace based on the two-state solution.

Hamas’ leadership had earlier on Friday publicly welcomed Trump’s call for an Israeli ceasefire and said it was ready for “immediate negotiations” on hostages and a ceasefire framework.

While Hamas did not endorse every aspect of the proposal — particularly clauses requiring its disarmament — it signaled a willingness to engage in dialogue under the U.S.-backed plan.

A Hamas spokesman described Trump’s position as “encouraging,” adding that the group was prepared to begin negotiations focused on a prisoner exchange and Israeli military withdrawal.

Trump's proposal

Trump’s 20-point proposal reportedly includes a 72-hour timeline for the release of hostages, a phased Israeli troop pullout from Gaza, and the establishment of a technocratic authority to administer the territory during the transition period. The transitional body would operate under international oversight.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed it was preparing to implement the first phase of the plan, though fighting on the ground continued with air and artillery strikes reported in Gaza City.

Despite reported divisions within Hamas’ ranks, the group later issued a statement supporting “lasting peace” and expressing readiness to transfer administrative control of Gaza to a neutral technocratic committee.

Mediators including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey welcomed Hamas’ response, while the United Nations called on all parties to “seize the opportunity” for peace.

The conflict, now entering its second year, has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented cross-border raid into Israel that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and more than 250 taken hostage.

Trump’s initiative marks the most significant U.S.-brokered push for peace since the war began, with Washington seeking to secure a ceasefire and a roadmap for Gaza’s postwar governance.

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