The points that United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday as part of his peace plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza were not in line with a draft sent to him by a group of Muslim-majority countries, Reuters quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar claiming on Friday.

The countries had proposed a full Israeli withdrawal from the besieged Palestinian territory during a September 22 meeting with Trump. However, Trump’s plan calls for a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces to pave the way for Palestinian militant group Hamas to release the remaining hostages it holds.

“I have made it clear that these 20 points which Trump has made public are… not the same as ours,” Dar was quoted as saying. “I say that some changes have been made in it, in the draft we had.”

On Monday, Trump announced the 20-point plan to bring peace to Gaza, saying that “we are beyond very close” to ending the conflict.

Speaking at a press conference with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu by his side, Trump had said that while “everyone else has accepted” the proposal, if Hamas does not agree to it, Israel would have Washington’s backing “to do what you have to do”.

Netanyahu said that he supported the proposal, as it would achieve Israel’s aims for the war.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had welcomed Trump’s plan.

Dar claimed on Friday that Sharif’s comment was a general response to Trump’s broader social media post about the plan while in transit.

The White House announced the plan a week after leaders of eight Muslim-majority countries – Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Indonesia – discussed the situation in Gaza.

The Trump administration wants Muslim and Arab nations to send their militaries to Gaza so that Israel can withdraw its forces. It also wants to secure funds for the new administration in Gaza and reconstruction of the Palestinian territory, Axios reported.

In a social media post on Friday, Trump quoted Hamas as having said that it was willing to release all hostages as prescribed by Trump’s plan. Hamas also expressed its willingness to immediately begin negotiations, Trump quoted the militant group as having said.

Based on the statement by Hamas, Trump said that he believes that the militant group was “ready for a lasting peace”.

The US president called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing” of Gaza, “so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly”.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on besieged Gaza since then, leaving more than 62,600 persons dead.

In August, the UN formally declared a famine in northern Gaza. In September, a commission of inquiry set up by the United Nations said that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel called the report “distorted and false”, and demanded that the commission be immediately abolished.

Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks since July. Earlier efforts to reinstate a brief ceasefire that took effect in January had stalled due to disagreements between the two sides.

Trump’s proposal

The plan entails Israeli forces partially withdrawing from Gaza to prepare for hostages to be released.

Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the proposal, Hamas would have to return all hostages, whether alive or dead. Subsequently, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners undergoing life terms, as well as 1,700 Gaza residents who were detained after the conflict began.

Members of Hamas who “commit to peaceful coexistence” and agree to lay down arms will be given amnesty. Hamas members who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to receiving countries, as per the proposal.

The White House said that Israel will not annex Gaza and no one will be forced to leave the region.

Israeli security forces will progressively hand over the territory in Gaza that they are occupying to a temporary International Stabilisation Force.

The proposal also envisions a “Board of Peace” comprising international overseers led by Trump himself. The board will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, although the proposal has not yet specified his role.

Gaza will be governed by a temporary “technocratic, apolitical” committee comprising Palestinians and global experts and the “Board of Peace” will oversee the committee’s functioning. The proposal will require Hamas to have no direct or indirect role in governing Gaza. All military infrastructure, including tunnels and factories producing arms, must be dismantled.

Also read: Opinion: Could India be considered complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza?

📰 Crime Today News is proudly sponsored by DRYFRUIT & CO – A Brand by eFabby Global LLC

Design & Developed by Yes Mom Hosting