PM Modi hails Trump’s Gaza peace efforts as Hamas agrees to return Israeli hostages
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts in Gaza again. PM Modi’s statement came after Donald Trump ordered Israel to stop bombing the Gaza strip, following Hamas’ partial agreement to the US President’s peace plan.
Hamas agreed to release all Israeli hostages and the bodies of the deceased and enter negotiations to end the war in the region. Hamas also agreed to hand over the administration of Gaza to an independent body of Palestinian technocrats.
In the wake of the development, PM Modi posted on X: “We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace.”
Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan
PM Modi had praised Trump earlier when the US President came up with a 20-point peace plan. After Trump’s peace proposal was sent to the Hamas, the outfit agreed to join the negotiations and partially agreed to his plan to end nearly two years of war and release Israeli hostages. Following this, Trump ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza.
The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced nearly the entire population from their homes.
Hamas agrees to peace plan, but…
Hamas indicated a willingness to hand over power and free the hostages but said many aspects of Trump’s proposal still needed consultation and negotiation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was prepared to begin implementing the plan’s first stage, referring to the potential hostage release, but emphasized Israel’s conditions for ending the war had not changed. Trump welcomed Hamas’ move and insisted the bombing in Gaza must halt to enable safe release of hostages, highlighting ongoing talks over the details.
Hamas’s statement focused on Palestinian unity and rights, sidestepping calls for disarmament, a core Israeli demand. Trump’s plan would see Hamas release the remaining hostages and relinquish power and weapons; Israel would halt attacks, withdraw troops, release Palestinian prisoners, allow aid, and abandon resettlement plans for Gaza’s population.
The territory would then come under international oversight led by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
While key mediators like Egypt and Qatar welcomed the developments and called for continued talks, Hamas officials voiced objections, particularly against foreign administration of Gaza and the speed of the proposed hostage exchange. One of the points in Trump’s peace plan said that Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza and strive to achieve demilitarisation and hand over the administration to the International Stabilisation Force.
