Israel has welcomed the newly unveiled U.S.-backed comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza, with its Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, describing it as a “historic day” for the region and a “vision for the future.” The plan, presented by President Donald J. Trump at the White House, outlines a multi-phase roadmap for ending hostilities, returning hostages, and launching the reconstruction of Gaza under international oversight.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Ambassador Azar underscored broad international and regional support for the initiative. “What we saw yesterday in the White House was a comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza, but also a vision, a vision for the future,” he said. “It has the backing of Arab countries that praised President Trump for the plan. It has the backing of Muslim countries. It has international backing. It has the backing of Prime Minister Modi, who just tweeted about his support. We are very thankful to Prime Minister Modi for his support of the plan.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a statement on social media welcoming the plan, calling it “a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region.” He expressed hope that all stakeholders would “come together behind President Trump’s initiative.”
Asked whether India could participate in the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) to be deployed in Gaza, Azar noted, “It’s up to India to decide,” while praising India’s potential role in reconstruction. “India could build a project. India is the builder of the world. They can do it for Palestine too.” He recalled a recent Israeli finance delegation that had visited New Delhi to discuss infrastructure initiatives, suggesting that such expertise could extend to Gaza’s rebuilding.
He also acknowledged Pakistan’s support for the plan, stressing that endorsement from Arab and Muslim countries would be crucial to its success. “Pakistan has joined in support of this plan. It is important that Arab and Muslim countries support it,” he said. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Qatar expressed confidence in President Trump’s leadership. They welcomed the initiative for its commitment to preventing displacement, ensuring humanitarian access, rebuilding Gaza, and pursuing a two-state solution.
The Israeli envoy made clear that Hamas’s response will determine the next steps. “There are two ways out of this war. One is accepting the plan. The second is the continuation of the war,” he stated. “Hamas has to renounce power in Gaza. There is a chance Hamas will accept it, but we do not have publicly available information on who in the Hamas leadership is even alive.” He warned that if the militant group does not accept the proposal, military operations will continue.
Azar also noted that for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to return to power in Gaza, significant internal reforms were needed. He launched a sharp critique of the United Nations, particularly the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), alleging it harboured Hamas operatives. On Israel’s long-term intentions, he clarified, “We don’t have any claims for Gaza. We don’t want a physical presence on the ground.”
According to the text of the proposal, Gaza would be governed during a transitional period by an apolitical technocratic Palestinian committee, overseen by an international body chaired by President Trump. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to play a leading role. A “Board of Peace” will be responsible for rebuilding Gaza, attracting investment, and developing governance capacities, while the ISF ensures security alongside trained Palestinian police forces. The plan envisions total Israeli withdrawal upon successful demilitarisation of Gaza, and offers amnesty to Hamas members who disarm and commit to peaceful coexistence.
The State of Palestine, in its formal response, cautiously welcomed Trump’s efforts while stressing the need for key guarantees, including a full Israeli withdrawal, a unified Palestinian state, and adherence to international law. The statement reaffirmed the PA’s reform commitments, including ending payments to prisoners’ families, revising school curricula, and holding elections within a year of the war’s end.
Sharing his view with StratNewsGlobal, West Asia expert Dr. Md. Muddassir Quamar of Jawaharlal Nehru University commented, “It appears a comprehensive plan for a post-war Gaza. Now it depends on how the Israeli, Hamas, Palestinian, and Arab sides react. If they agree, there are certain advantages, most importantly the possibility to end the war and the humanitarian crisis. But until everyone commits, one can’t be sure of progress.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, struck a harder note following the Washington announcement. “Instead of Hamas isolating us, we isolated Hamas. Now the entire world, including the Arab and Muslim world, is pressuring Hamas to accept the terms… while the IDF remains in most of the Strip,” he said, appearing to contradict some aspects of the Trump plan.
The Trump proposal represents the most detailed and ambitious peace initiative since the war began, but its path to implementation remains uncertain. Much will depend on Hamas’s response, political consensus within Israel, the Palestinian Authority’s capacity for reform, and the willingness of international partners to deploy security forces and finance reconstruction. For now, the plan has brought broad diplomatic momentum, but whether it can translate into lasting peace in Gaza remains an open question.
