Trump's Gaza plan wins Netanyahu backing, but hinges on Hamas

The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself.

"I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims," Netanyahu said in a joint press conference with the US president. 

"If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself."

Trump said that Israel would have his "full backing" to do so if Hamas did not accept the deal.

But he insisted peace in the Middle East was "beyond very close" and described the announcement of the plan as a "potentially one of the great days ever in civilization."

Reaction was global, and swift. Eight key Arab and Muslim nations -- Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan -- hailed the agreement's "sincere efforts" in the wake of their own talks with Trump last week.

Washington's European allies promptly voiced support, with the leaders of France, UK, Germany and Italy sharing strong expressions of support for the plan.

And European Union chief Antonio Costa urged all parties to "seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance." 

But, in a sign of continued uncertainty, after the announcement the normally talkative Trump said the two leaders would not take questions from reporters as talks with key parties were ongoing.

- 'Farce' -

Trump's plan sparked mixed reactions in a region scarred by nearly two years of devastating war.

A senior Hamas official told AFP that the group would "respond once we receive it." Qatari and Egyptian mediators later shared Trump's proposal with Hamas, another official briefed on the talks said.

In devastated Gaza, residents expressed skepticism that Trump's plan could end the war.

"We as a people will not accept this farce," Abu Mazen Nassar, 52, one of 1.9 million Gazans displaced by the war, told AFP.

The Palestinian Authority, which is based in the West Bank but would be set for a role in a post-war Gaza government, also welcomed Trump's "sincere and determined efforts."

But the deal is full of pitfalls for both Hamas and Israel, while the details could be battled over for weeks or months.

For Hamas, it demands the militants fully disarm and be excluded from future roles in the government, although those who agree to "peaceful co-existence" would be granted amnesty.

But Netanyahu could also face trouble selling the deal to far-right members of his cabinet.

Netanyahu stressed to reporters that Israeli forces would retain responsibility for Gaza security "for the foreseeable future" and cast doubt on the Palestinian Authority's role.

Trump's plan, meanwhile, leaves hope for Palestinian statehood -- something he said Netanyahu had strongly objected to during the meeting.

- 'Deep regret' -

While Trump hailed Netanyahu as a "warrior," he has shown increasing signs of frustration ahead of the Israeli premier's fourth White House visit this year.

Trump was infuriated by Israel's recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar and he warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

During their meeting, Trump arranged for Netanyahu to call Qatar's prime minister from the Oval Office to express "deep regret" for the strike and promise not to do so again, the White House said.

Other key points in Trump's plan include deployment of a "temporary international stabilization force" -- and the creation of the transitional authority headed by him and including former British premier Tony Blair.

Blair, still a controversial figure in much of the Middle East for his role in the 2003 Iraq war, hailed the "bold and intelligent" plan.

The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally from Israeli official figures.

Israel's offensive has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed 66,055 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

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