WASHINGTON (AP) — World leaders welcomed Hamas’ announcement that it has accepted a U.S.-brokered peace plan, hailing it as a potential breakthrough toward ending the war in Gaza and calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who spearheaded the peace proposal, said the militant group’s statement signaled readiness for lasting peace.
“Based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE,” Trump said. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly... this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Hamas’ acceptance “a significant step forwards,” adding, “We strongly support President Trump’s efforts, which have brought us closer to peace than ever before. There is now an opportunity to end the fighting, for the hostages to return home, and for humanitarian aid to reach those who so desperately need it. We call on all sides to implement the agreement without delay.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “Alhamdolillah, we are closer to a ceasefire than we have been since this genocide was launched on the Palestinian people. Pakistan has always stood by the Palestinian people and shall always do so. Gratitude is due to President Trump, as well as to leaderships of Qatar, Saudia Arabia, UAE, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia who met with President Trump on the sidelines of #UNGA80 for the resolution of the Palestinian issue.”
He added that Hamas’ statement “creates a window for a ceasefire and ensuring peace that we must not allow to close again,” pledging Pakistan’s continued efforts toward “everlasting peace in Palestine.”
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar also called Hamas’ response “a welcome step,” urging that it “must now result in an immediate ceasefire, end to Palestinian suffering, ensure hostages release, and allow free flow of humanitarian aid.” He said Israel “MUST immediately stop its attacks,” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for “a sovereign, viable State of Palestine on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
Qatar’s government welcomed Hamas’ agreement and said it stands ready to work with Egypt and the United States to advance the plan.
“The State of Qatar welcomes the announcement by Hamas of its agreement to President Trump’s plan, and its readiness to release all hostages as part of the exchange framework,” it said. “We affirm our support for the statements made by the President calling for an immediate ceasefire... and we have begun working with our partners to ensure a path toward ending the war.”
The statements from Washington, London, Islamabad and Doha reflect growing international momentum behind the U.S. peace proposal and renewed hopes that the fighting in Gaza could finally give way to negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.
