Donald Trump has come up with a rather specific 20-point peace plan. His stated objective is to broker a ceasefire and negotiate a permanent end to the decade-long violence between Israel and Hamas. The ex-president said he anticipates seeing hostages released beginning Wednesday. That would be huge, because it might indicate a broader de-escalation trend.
The announcement comes as President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu are facing increasing international pressure to implement a ceasefire. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan couldn’t hide his glee. He endorsed the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on the first stage of the ceasefire. He expressed appreciation to Trump for his efforts in helping open talks to end the war.
To that end, French President Emmanuel Macron recently lauded the ceasefire agreement. Most importantly, he stressed that it must end all hostilities and lay out a path toward a political solution based on a two-state paradigm. In an effort to resolve the conflict, Macron pledged to work with international partners to find a permanent solution to the conflict.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, was similarly effusive in celebrating this terribly positive turn of events. “I applaud the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.” She reiterated that both the ceasefire and the release of hostages are crucial first steps toward anything meaningful.
First, Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated that Hamas needs to be defeated. He made this commitment very clear, strongly, in the wake of the return of hostages from Gaza. The Israeli security cabinet and government are meeting today and tomorrow to continue reviewing the agreement and its ramifications.
The international community remains ever-vigilant and more than 160 signatories await further developments. The United Kingdom, according to our sources, is preparing to play a major role in the next stages of this peace plan. At the same time, France stands ready to support efforts to secure a sustainable peace in the region.
Joint domestic and international support for this new peacemaking push could have a major impact on turning the tide in the longer conflict.
“The agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace initiative is a moment of profound significance, relief and hope. And I want to pay tribute to the negotiators from the US, from Qatar, from Egypt, from Turkey, and all the many nations who have been working so hard over many months to help get to this point.” – Ursula von der Leyen
Trump’s 20-point plan would bring an end to the violence that has continued unabated ever since. It pushes to establish templates for addressing fundamental matters such as humanitarian assistance, economic reconstruction and Palestinian political representation. It’s a careful proposal, focused on creating the necessary conditions for a lasting peace that fulfills the national self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Pat McFadden remarked on the potential of the agreement, stating, “I think he does deserve credit for this. I think the mediators deserve credit, and I think it opens up potentially big possibilities, not just as I say in the immediate few days, but for the longer-term future.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the deal struck in Egypt “extraordinary news.” This agreement is a big step towards getting the entire first phase of the project up and running. She implored all parties at the table to abide by the agreed-upon terms. She further echoed Italy’s support to mediation efforts to stabilize Gaza.