By Staff Reporter
Eight Muslim countries that collaborated with President Donald Trump’s administration on a proposal to halt Israel’s military campaign in Gaza welcomed on Sunday what they described as “steps taken by Hamas” toward accepting the plan, viewing the militant group’s partial agreement as a potential breakthrough for a cease-fire after nearly two years of devastating conflict.
The endorsement from the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt came in a joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, which highlighted Hamas’s willingness to engage on key elements of Trump’s initiative, including the release of hostages and the handover of Gaza’s administration to independent technocrats.
“The Foreign Ministers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt, today welcomed the steps taken by Hamas regarding US President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war on Gaza, release all hostages, alive or deceased, and the immediate launch of negotiations on implementation mechanisms,” the statement said.
The ministers also praised Trump’s demand that Israel immediately cease bombing Gaza and proceed with a prisoner-hostage exchange, expressing “appreciation for his commitment to establishing peace in the region.” They added that these developments “represent a real opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, and to address the critical humanitarian conditions facing people in Gaza Strip.”
According to the Foreign Office, the ministers welcomed Hamas’s announcement of its “readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a transitional Palestinian Administrative Committee of independent technocrats.” They stressed the urgency of starting negotiations to finalise implementation mechanisms covering all aspects of the proposal.
The ministers reiterated their “joint commitment to support efforts towards the implementation of the proposal to work for the immediate end of the war in Gaza and achieve a comprehensive agreement that ensures unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, no displacement of the Palestinian people, that no measures are taken that threaten the security and safety of civilians, the release of hostages, the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, unifying Gaza and the West Bank, reaching a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all sides in a manner that leads to the full Israeli withdrawal […] the rebuilding of Gaza and that […] a path [is created] for just peace on basis of the two-state solution.”
The Israeli military operation in Gaza began in October 2023 after a Hamas attack inside Israel. Since then, more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, thousands injured and millions displaced. Last month, United Nations investigators concluded that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza aimed at “destroy[ing] the Palestinians,” and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials of incitement.
Trump’s involvement ramped up last month when his administration enlisted the eight Muslim nations, including Pakistan, to broker an end to the violence. Days later, the White House unveiled a 20-point plan for Gaza, coinciding with a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, followed by a joint press conference where the Israeli leader signaled agreement. However, some of the Muslim countries involved have privately indicated that the unveiled plan deviated from the original version they had endorsed.
US news outlet Axios reported that the deal presented to Hamas differed significantly from the earlier agreement due to Netanyahu’s input. Key changes, secured during a six-hour meeting with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, altered the conditions and timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. The revised plan links the withdrawal to Hamas’s disarmament and grants Israel veto power over the process. Even after all phases of withdrawal, Israeli forces would retain a security perimeter “until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat,” according to Axios.
Behind the scenes, officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey expressed fury over the alterations, the report said. Qatari officials attempted to persuade the Trump administration against releasing the detailed plan on Monday amid these objections, but the White House proceeded and urged the Muslim nations to back it. The eight countries then released a joint statement welcoming Trump’s announcement without fully endorsing the plan. Qatari intermediaries informed the others that a positive general statement would be followed by detailed discussions with the US, sources told Axios.
On Monday, Qatar and Egypt relayed the 20-point plan to Hamas, after which Trump gave the group “three to four days” to accept it or face “a very sad end.” He later set a deadline of 2200 GMT on Sunday, warning that rejection would bring “all hell.”
Hamas, excluded from the initial negotiations, responded Friday by agreeing to some terms, such as hostage releases, but sidestepped issues like disarmament and called for further talks. On Saturday, Trump urged Israel to halt bombings immediately, stating he believed Hamas was prepared for peace. Despite this, reports of continued airstrikes in Gaza persisted.
In a related development, Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced Sunday that it was working with international partners to secure the release and repatriation of its citizens detained during Israel’s interception of an aid flotilla to Gaza. “Through the diplomatic channels of a friendly European country, we have confirmed that former senator Mushtaq Ahmad is in the custody of the Israeli occupying forces and is safe and in good health,” the office said in a press release.
It added that Pakistani authorities were informed Ahmad would appear in court, with deportation orders enabling his swift return. Ahmad, a former senator leading a five-member Pakistani delegation, was detained October 2 while aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which carried aid and activists to the blockaded territory. Israeli forces intercepted over 40 vessels about 42.5 nautical miles (79 km) from Gaza, detaining more than 450 people. The action drew global condemnation.
The Foreign Office noted it had previously arranged the safe return of other Pakistanis who disembarked earlier, thanking “brotherly countries” for assistance, and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens abroad, expecting the process to conclude soon.
Meanwhile, 137 activists from the flotilla arrived in Turkey on Saturday after deportation, with two claiming Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg endured mistreatment. The group landing at Istanbul Airport included 36 Turks and nationals from the United States, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Malaysian citizen Hazwani Helmi, 28, and American Windfield Beaver, 43, told Reuters they saw Thunberg shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag. “It was a disaster. They treated us like animals,” Helmi said, adding that detainees lacked clean food, water, medication and belongings. Beaver described Thunberg as “treated terribly” and “used as propaganda,” recounting how she was pushed into a room during a visit by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 26 Italians were on the flight, with 15 more still held in Israel awaiting expulsion alongside others. “I have once again given instructions to the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv to ensure that the remaining compatriots are treated with respect for their rights,” Tajani wrote on X.
A first group of four Italian parliamentarians from the flotilla returned to Rome on Friday. “Those who were acting legally were the people aboard those boats; those who acted illegally were those who prevented them from reaching Gaza,” said Arturo Scotto, one of the lawmakers, at a Rome press conference. “We were brutally stopped […] brutally taken hostage,” added fellow parliamentarian Benedetta Scuderi.
Adalah, an Israeli legal aid group assisting flotilla members, reported that some detainees were denied lawyers, water, medications and toilets. They were also “forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied for at least five hours, after some participants chanted ‘Free Palestine,'” Adalah said.
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