European and Middle Eastern leaders have welcomed a new US peace plan for Gaza, as President Donald Trump warned Hamas to accept it.
The plan, agreed by Trump and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an immediate end to military operations, with Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead within 72 hours, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
A Palestinian source familiar with the ceasefire negotiations told the BBC that Hamas officials have been given the White House’s 20-point plan.
It demands that Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza, and leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.
Speaking at a news conference following talks at the White House, Trump called the plan “a historic day for peace”.
But he said that Netanyahu will have US backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas” if Hamas does not agree to the plan.
Netanyahu then said Israel “will finish the job” if Hamas rejects the plan or does not follow through.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has called the US president’s efforts as “sincere and determined”.
In a statement published by its WAFA news agency, the authority said it “renews its joint commitment to work with the United States, regional states, and partners” to end the war on 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”.
European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “encouraged by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s positive response” to the proposal. He added “all parties must seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance”.
