PM welcomes Trump’s Gaza peace plan

India on Tuesday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the initiative provides a “viable pathway” for long-term peace and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people.

- Rezaul H Laskar

On Monday, Trump unveiled the peace proposal which envisages the return of all hostages taken by Hamas, living or dead, within 72 hours of a ceasefire. The plan leaves many details to be worked out by negotiators and hinges on acceptance by Hamas, which triggered the conflict with terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas's negotiating team is studying Trump's peace plan, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson has said. Trump has told reporters he will give Hamas up to four days to respond.

The Gaza Strip, world’s most densely populated enclave where offensives by Israel have killed more than 66,000 people, will be redeveloped as “New Gaza”, according to the plan.

India has consistently called for a return to dialogue and diplomacy to end the Israel-Hamas conflict and pave way for efforts aimed at a two-state solution. “We welcome President Donald J. Trump's announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long term and sustainable peace, security and development for Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region,” Modi said on social media.

“We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump's initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace.”