Pakistan welcomes Hamas’ response to Trump’s Gaza peace plan

On October 4, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the Palestinian group Hamas’s response to US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan “creates a window for a ceasefire and ensuring peace that we must not allow to close again.”

On October 3, Trump instructed Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept certain elements of the US plan aimed at ending the war. However, contentious issues, such as disarmament, appeared unresolved.

Following this, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan, which involves the release of Israeli hostages in response to Hamas’s engagement.

The international community welcomed Hamas’s positive response, with Pakistan joining in support.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister 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.”

He also thanked US President Trump, along with the leaderships of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia, for their efforts during meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The eight countries, together with the US, convened at the UNGA to discuss the conflict in Gaza.

Sharif added: “The statement issued by Hamas creates a window for a ceasefire and ensuring peace that we must not allow to close again,” and emphasised that Pakistan would continue to “work with all its partners and brotherly nations to [ensure] everlasting peace in Palestine.”

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described Hamas’s response as a “welcome step.”

“This must now result in an immediate ceasefire, end to Palestinian suffering, ensure hostages' release, and allow free flow of humanitarian aid. Israel MUST immediately stop its attacks,” he said.

Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s position, stating: “We reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and a sovereign, viable State of Palestine on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”

By Tamilla Hasanova