New Delhi, Sep 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, calling it a “viable pathway” to long-term peace and stability in West Asia.
“We welcome President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict,” Modi posted on X. “It provides a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security, and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region. We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace.” The plan, unveiled in Washington, has triggered a strong international reaction, with Israel formally endorsing it and regional and global powers urging Hamas to engage.
REGIONAL AND ARAB WORLD REACTION
Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt—joined by Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia—issued a joint statement hailing Trump’s “sincere efforts” to end the war, rebuild Gaza, and prevent Palestinian displacement. They praised the plan’s rejection of West Bank annexation and committed to working “constructively” towards finalising it. The bloc reiterated its long-standing support for a two-state solution that integrates Gaza with the West Bank.
EUROPEAN ENDORSEMENTS
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Hamas to accept the deal, saying, “The misery can only end if arms are laid down and all hostages released. We call on all sides to come together and work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality.”
French President Emmanuel Macron described the proposal as a “serious basis for peace,” offering France’s support for its implementation while vowing to remain “vigilant” about obligations on all sides.
European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “encouraged by Netanyahu’s positive response” and called the moment “an opportunity to give peace a genuine chance.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU “stands ready to contribute” to the plan. On X, she urged all parties to “seize this opportunity” while reiterating calls for immediate humanitarian relief in Gaza and a two-state solution as “the only viable path to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez added that “it is time for the violence to cease, for the immediate release of all hostages and for humanitarian access for the civilian population,” reaffirming that “a two-state solution is the only possible one.” Italy’s Prime Minister also backed the proposal, aligning with EU partners.
With Hamas reviewing the deal “in good faith” and a broad coalition of world leaders lining up behind it, the Trump plan is being seen as the most significant diplomatic push in years to end the Gaza conflict.
TONY BLAIR NAMED TO TRUMP-LED GAZA ‘BOARD OF PEACE’
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has been named as the first member of a new international “Board of Peace,” which will temporarily oversee Gaza under a US-backed plan to end the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas.
US President Donald Trump, who will chair the body, said Blair had agreed to join and that “leaders from other countries” would be announced soon. The board is part of a 20-point peace proposal that calls for an immediate halt to hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Under the plan, Gaza would be run by a technocratic Palestinian committee under international supervision. Hamas would be excluded “in any form,” while aid and reconstruction efforts would begin immediately. A multinational stabilisation force would also be deployed to help secure the territory and train local police. Blair, who served as prime minister from 1997 to 2007 and later as Middle East envoy for the Quartet of the US, EU, Russia and UN, called the initiative “the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering,” reports BBC, In a statement, he praised Trump’s “bold and intelligent plan” and said the willingness of the US president to chair the board sent “a huge signal of support and confidence in the future of Gaza.”
GAZA STRIKES CONTINUE
Despite diplomatic manoeuvring, the fighting has not yet ceased. More than 35 people were killed in Israeli air strikes and gunfire this weekend. The Israeli military confirmed hitting 120 targets since Friday, describing them as “terror sites and operatives.” The offensive is now concentrated around Gaza City, where Israel insists Hamas retains its last major stronghold. The humanitarian crisis is acute: famine has been confirmed by a UN-backed body, hundreds of thousands have fled, and vital services are collapsing.
