BRUSSELS/ANKARA/BERLIN (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end nearly two years of war in Gaza has received the backing of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while the plan has been shared with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Here are some reactions to the peace proposal.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU
“I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims.
It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities, end its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.”
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY STATEMENT CARRIED ON STATE NEWS AGENCY WAFA
“The State of Palestine welcomes the sincere and determined efforts of President Donald J. Trump to end the war on Gaza and affirms its confidence in his ability to find a path toward peace.”
ISRAELI FINANCE MINISTER BEZALEL SMOTRICH
“It is a historic missed opportunity … and in my estimation it will end in tears. Our children will be forced to fight in Gaza again.
We will consult, consider and decide, God willing. But the celebrations since yesterday are simply absurd.”
ZIAD AL-NAKHALA, HEAD OF GAZA-BASED MILITANT GROUP ISLAMIC JIHAD
“Israel is trying to impose through the United States what it could not achieve through war. Therefore, we consider the American-Israeli declaration a recipe for blowing up the region.”
EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF KAJA KALLAS
“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. Israel has signed on to the plan. Hamas must now accept it without delay, starting with the immediate release of hostages.”
JOINT STATEMENT BY FOREIGN MINISTERS OF UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR, EGYPT, JORDAN, INDONESIA, PAKISTAN, TURKEY
“The ministers affirm their readiness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and the parties toward finalising the agreement and ensuring its implementation, in a manner that ensures peace, security, and stability for the peoples of the region.
They reaffirm their joint commitment to work with the United States 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, the release of hostages, a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all sides, full Israeli withdrawal, rebuilds Gaza and creates a path for just peace on the basis of the two-state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state.”
UN SPOKESPERSON IN GENEVA, ALESSANDRA VELLUCCI
“We are also continuing to be in touch with the parties, with the various parties, about the peace efforts. For indeed, we welcome all the mediation efforts. And of course, we stand ready to support any peace plan with everything we can do, including the provision of humanitarian assistance.”
TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN
“I commend US President Donald Trump’s efforts and leadership aimed at halting the bloodshed in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire. Türkiye will continue to contribute to the process with a view to establishing a just and lasting peace acceptable to all parties.”
KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV
“Russia always supports and welcomes any efforts by Trump aimed at ending the tragedy that is currently unfolding.
And, of course, we want this plan to be implemented and for it to help bring events in the Middle East to a peaceful conclusion.”
GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ
“We welcome the peace plan for Gaza presented yesterday by President Trump. This plan is the best plan to end the war.
The fact that Israel supports this plan is a significant step forward. Now Hamas must agree and clear the way for peace.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON
“I welcome President @realDonaldTrump’s commitment to ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages.
I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. 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, based on the two-state solution and on the principles endorsed by 142 UN member states, at the initiative of France and Saudi Arabia.”
UK PRIME MINISTER SIR KEIR STARMER
“The new U.S. initiative to deliver an end to the war in Gaza is profoundly welcome and I am grateful for President Trump’s leadership.
We strongly support his efforts to end the fighting, release the hostages and ensure the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza. This is our top priority and should happen immediately.”
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ
“Spain welcomes the US-backed peace proposal for Gaza.
We must put an end to so much suffering.
It is time for the violence to cease, for all hostages to be released immediately and for humanitarian aid to be allowed access to the civilian population.
The two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, is the only possible solution.”
(Reporting by Steven Scheer, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Nidal Al Mughrabi, Madeline Chambers, Sabine Wollrab, Alexander Cornwell, Emma Farge and Tuvan GumrukcuWriting by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
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