Governments from several Arab and European countries, along with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), have welcomed President Donald Trump’s plan to end Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, which was presented on Monday, September 29, at the White House.
The initiative was announced following a meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has received the green light from his government and includes, among other things, the complete disarmament of Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and several countries.
It also includes the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli military, the release of all hostages, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, as well as unrestricted humanitarian aid through the United Nations.
Responses to Trump’s proposal contrast with the silence from the Islamist group Hamas, which has yet to issue an official statement.
PNA Thanks Trump for His Efforts
The Palestinian National Authority acknowledged the “sincere and determined efforts” of Trump to end Israel’s war in the enclave and reaffirmed “its willingness to engage positively and constructively with the United States” to “achieve peace, security, and stability for the peoples of the region.”
In a statement, the Authority reaffirmed its commitment to holding presidential and parliamentary elections within a year of the war’s end.
Trump’s roadmap envisions the establishment of a transitional government overseen by a “Peace Board” chaired by the U.S. leader, which would later transition to PNA administration of the enclave.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Islamist armed group that participated in the October 7, 2023, attacks, rejected the White House plan and called it a “recipe for continued aggression against the Palestinian people.”
The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, left 1,219 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed thousands in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from Hamas-run Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which the UN considers reliable.
Netanyahu Accepts, and Israeli Opposition Applauds
Netanyahu was the first to support Trump’s plan, arguing that it “aligns” with Israel’s “war objectives”: returning hostages home, dismantling Hamas, and “ensuring Gaza never again poses a threat.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that Trump’s plan “is the right foundation for an agreement on the hostages and the end of the war.”
Benny Gantz, a former member of Israel’s War Cabinet who resigned due to disagreements with Netanyahu’s military plans, urged the proposal’s implementation.
“We cannot miss the opportunity to recover the hostages and safeguard our security.”
Families of the hostages also expressed support for what could be a “historic agreement” that would allow “healing” for the Israeli people.
Europe Backs the Proposal
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.S. initiative is “deeply welcome” and called on Hamas to accept the plan and “lay down its arms” to “end the suffering” in Gaza.
One of its former leaders is directly involved: Trump proposed Tony Blair, who served as UK Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, to co-lead a transition council with him. Blair described the plan as “bold and smart” and urged all parties to approve it.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the proposal to end “the violence” and provide humanitarian aid to civilians, while insisting on a two-state solution as “the only possible” path.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised “the commitment” of his U.S. counterpart and called on Israel to “firmly commit” to the agreement and on Hamas to follow the plan and release the hostages “immediately.”
From Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the White House proposal “could be a turning point” and stated that her country “welcomes it with satisfaction.”
European Council President António Costa echoed this, adding that “all parties must seize this moment to give peace a real chance.”
Qatar and Egypt Give Green Light
Foreign ministers from seven Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint statement thanking Trump for his “sincere efforts” and endorsing his proposal to “end the war, rebuild Gaza,” and “prevent the displacement of Palestinian people.”
In addition to Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, the statement was also signed by Qatar and Egypt, the two countries mediating between Israel and Hamas alongside the U.S.
The seven governments called for moving toward a “path to just peace based on a two-state solution.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan directly congratulated Trump for his “leadership aimed at halting the bloodshed in Gaza.”
Image: DiarioNY
