European and Middle Eastern leaders have voiced support for a new US peace initiative for Gaza, unveiled by President Donald Trump, who warned Hamas to accept the deal.

The plan, formulated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate halt to military operations. It requires Hamas to release 20 living Israeli hostages and return the bodies of more than two dozen others believed to be dead within 72 hours, in exchange for hundreds of detained Palestinians.

A Palestinian source familiar with ceasefire negotiations told the BBC that Hamas had been presented with Washington’s 20-point framework. The document stipulates that Hamas will have no role in Gaza’s governance, while leaving open the prospect of a future Palestinian state.

At a White House press conference, Trump hailed the proposal as “a historic day for peace,” but cautioned that if Hamas rejected the deal, Netanyahu would have full US backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.” Netanyahu echoed that stance, saying Israel “will finish the job” if the group refuses to comply.

The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, described Trump’s initiative as “sincere and determined.” 

Through its WAFA news agency, it reaffirmed its commitment to work with Washington, regional states, and international partners to end the war, secure humanitarian access, and achieve 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 praised Trump’s “leadership and sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza.” 

They expressed readiness to cooperate with the US to finalise and implement the deal, which they said must ultimately lead to a two-state solution, integrating Gaza with the West Bank in a Palestinian state.

European Council President Antonio Costa said he was encouraged by Netanyahu’s “positive response” and urged all sides to “seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance.”

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 66,055 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023.

Under the plan, hostilities would stop immediately, with battle lines frozen until conditions for withdrawal are met. Hamas would be required to disarm and dismantle tunnels and weapons facilities. For every Israeli hostage’s remains returned, Israel would release the remains of 15 Palestinians.

The agreement also mandates the swift delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza once both sides consent. Governance would be transferred to a temporary, technocratic Palestinian committee overseen by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump. 

Former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair, who described the plan as “bold and intelligent,” will sit on the board alongside other leaders yet to be announced.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the initiative, urging Hamas to accept the deal, lay down arms, and release all hostages. 

French President Emmanuel Macron pledged France’s support for peace efforts, while Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the plan “could represent a turning point,” urging all sides to embrace it.

The proposal makes clear that Hamas will be excluded from governance “directly, indirectly, or in any form.” It places emphasis on an economic recovery programme to rebuild Gaza, while ruling out Israeli occupation or annexation. 

Troop withdrawals would take place in phases, and unlike Trump’s earlier proposals, Palestinians would not be forced to leave Gaza. “We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza,” the document states.

The plan leaves open the possibility of a Palestinian state. Qatari and Egyptian officials are reported to have handed the proposal to Hamas leaders in Doha.

A senior Hamas official told the BBC the group was prepared to review any proposal that could end the conflict but insisted that Palestinian interests, full Israeli withdrawal, and guarantees of statehood must be safeguarded. 

On the issue of disarmament, the official said Hamas’s weapons “are a red line as long as the occupation continues,” adding that such matters could only be negotiated within a political settlement ensuring a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders.

The announcement came shortly after Netanyahu denounced Western recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, calling it a “mark of shame” and prompting dozens of diplomats to walk out during his address.

Although Trump has remained a strong supporter of Netanyahu since returning to the White House, he has recently shown frustration with Israel’s military strategy. He criticised a strike in Qatar that accidentally killed a Qatari serviceman, with Netanyahu personally calling Doha’s prime minister to express regret.

Israel launched its Gaza campaign in response to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken.

Meanwhile, a UN-backed body has confirmed famine conditions in Gaza City, and a UN inquiry earlier this month concluded that Israel committed genocide — an allegation Israel firmly rejects.

Source: BBC

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