US President Trump said on Tuesday that he is giving Hamas “about three to four days” to respond to his plan.
US President Donald Trump announced details of his new 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip on Monday, saying “the war will immediately end” if both sides agreed to the proposal.
The plan — presented by Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a joint press conference on Monday — was described by the White House as a framework supported by “Arab and Islamic leaders,” according to the Anadolu news agency.
On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that he is giving Hamas “about three to four days” to respond to his plan.
“We’re just waiting for Hamas, and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not — and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end,” he said.
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The plan envisions transforming Gaza into “a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors” while ensuring the enclave “will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough,” the White House said in a statement.
Under the proposal, “if both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end” with Israeli forces withdrawing to agreed positions.
During this time, “all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.”
Release of Captives
Within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance, all captives, both living and deceased, must be returned, according to the plan’s outline.
Trump said that under his plan, a transitional interim governing body, which he called the “board of peace,” will be established, with Trump himself serving as the chair. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other national leaders will also be included.
“The leaders of the Arab world and Israel and everybody involved asked me to do this. So it will be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J. Trump of the United States,” he said.
Trump said the governing body will work with the World Bank and other unspecified institutions, and will be tasked with “recruiting and training a new government that will be made up of Palestinians, along with highly qualified experts from all around the world.”
No Role for Hamas
“Hamas and other terrorist factions will play no role in the board, but they will play no role in the governance of Gaza at all, directly or indirectly,” Trump said.
He added that during his closed-door talks with Netanyahu, the Israeli leader “was very clear about his opposition to a Palestinian state.”
“Several countries have foolishly recognized the Palestinian state, as you know, some of our European friends, allies, good people, but they’re really, I think, doing that because they’re very tired of what’s going on for so many decades,” he reportedly said.
Islamic Jihad Rejects Plan
Hamas negotiators told mediators they would examine the proposal “in good faith” and eventually provide a formal response, according to Reuters news agency.
The announcement was immediately rejected by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah dismissed it as “nothing but a full American-Israeli agreement,” saying it reflects “the Israeli position in its most precise details” and represents “a recipe for continued aggression against the Palestinian people.”
Arab Countries Welcome Plan
On Tuesday, Arab countries welcomed Trump’s plan.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, and Egypt commended Trump’s “leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza,” and asserted “their confidence in his ability to find a path to peace.”
“They emphasize the importance of the partnership with the United States in securing peace in the region,” the statement noted.
“Along these lines, the ministers welcome the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and advance a comprehensive peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank,” it added.
They committed to working with the US “to end the war in Gaza through a comprehensive deal that ensures unrestricted delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to Gaza, no displacement of the Palestinians,” and the release of hostages. In addition, “a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all sides, full Israeli withdrawal, rebuilds Gaza and creates a path for a just peace on the basis of the two state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state in accordance with international law as key to achieving regional stability and security.”
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‘Positive Initiative’
In a statement, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry called the plan “a positive initiative to achieve security and peace in the Middle East region.”
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry hailed US peace efforts under Trump’s leadership “to end the war in Gaza, and reach an agreement that ends the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, safeguards their inalienable rights, leads to a full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces, begins reconstruction, prevents Palestinian displacement, and supports a just and comprehensive peace.”
It voiced hope that Trump’s efforts would lead to an immediate delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also welcomed Trump’s efforts “to end the suffering of civilians and innocents in Gaza, prevent bloodshed, and work together for a stable and prosperous Middle East based on the principles of human justice and human dignity.”
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said that “any international effort aimed at ending the crisis and halting the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deserves praise, engagement, and contribution.”
European Leaders’ Response
Several European leaders on Tuesday welcomed and voiced their support for US President Donald Trump’s new plan announced Monday to end the Gaza war.
“Welcome President Donald Trump’s commitment to end the war in Gaza. Encourage all parties to now seize this opportunity. The EU stands ready to contribute,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said through the US social media company X.
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She noted that a two-state solution remains the “only viable path” to a “just and lasting peace” in the Middle East, stressing that hostilities must end with the immediate provision of humanitarian relief to Gazans and the release of all hostages.
“President Trump’s Gaza plan is an opportunity for lasting peace. It offers the best immediate chance to end the war. The EU is ready to help it succeed,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also noted.
European Council President Antonio Costa also welcomed Trump’s initiative, urging all parties to give peace a “genuine chance.”
“I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. (The Palestinian group) Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan. These elements must pave the way for in-depth discussions with all relevant partners to build a lasting peace in the region,” French President Emmanuel Macron also said on X, expressing readiness to contribute.
‘Profoundly Welcome’ – UK
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the US initiative is “profoundly welcome,” vowing to continue building consensus to put into place a permanent ceasefire.
“I welcome the peace plan for Gaza presented by President Trump. It is the best chance for an end to the war since October 7, 2023. Good that Israel supports the plan,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also said on X.
He also stressed that Germany is “ready” to contribute to the implementation of the plan.
“All parties must now engage in bringing this war to an end and start building a better, secure future for the people of Palestine, Israel and the whole region,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted.
Switzerland, Italy
The Swiss Foreign Ministry also welcomed the plan, vowing support to any initiative “rooted in international law, ensuring the protection of civilians and the release of all hostages, guaranteeing humanitarian access and laying the foundations for a durable peace based on the two-State solution.”
“The proposal presented today by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, could represent a turning point in this process, allowing for a permanent cessation of hostilities, the immediate release of all hostages, and full and safe humanitarian access for the civilian population,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
She also expressed Italy’s readiness to do its part and described the initiative as an “ambitious project for the stabilization, reconstruction, and development of the Gaza Strip, with the full involvement of regional partners.”
Spain Backs Two-State Solution
“Spain welcomes the peace proposal for Gaza promoted by the United States. We must put an end to so much suffering. It is time for the violence to cease, for the immediate release of all the hostages to take place, and for humanitarian aid to be provided to the civilian population. The two-State solution, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, is the only possible one,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also said on X.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said Trump’s plan “must” be a “serious step” toward the two-state solution.
“I welcome the plan for Gaza presented by President Trump. It presents options that could lead to what is needed: a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, the release of hostages, and the reconstruction of Gaza with a political horizon towards the two states solution. This is what Belgium has been pushing for and this is what Belgium is ready to encourage,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot also noted.
Russia
The Kremlin on Tuesday said Russia “always supports and welcomes any efforts by Trump that aim to prevent the tragedy that is currently unfolding (in Gaza).”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing, “We hope this plan will be implemented, so that it will help bring events in the Middle East to a peaceful course,” Peskov said, adding that Russia maintains contacts with all parties to the conflict and is ready to facilitate a peaceful settlement if necessary.
He denied Russia’s participation in the plan itself, saying Moscow has not received any signals from Washington in this regard.
Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 66,000 Palestinians, with more than 168,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.
(PC, Anadolu, AJA)
Any initiative coming from the side or cohorts of governments who are guilty of perpetrating and materialization of the genocide cannot be trusted. Let the Palestinians decide, not Israel, not Trump, and surely not the Arab countries who withstood the massacre of a brother country they should have protected.
I agree. The only “good” thing about the “the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, and Egypt” is they talk about the opposite plan! It sounds like Trump is losing his mind: “a gentleman known as President Donald J. Trump of the United States”??