8 Arab, Muslim nations welcome Hamas’ stance on Gaza ceasefire

CAIRO, Oct. 6 — Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Sunday issued a joint statement welcoming Hamas’s steps toward the ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

According to the statement, the foreign ministers of the eight countries welcomed “the steps taken by Hamas regarding Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza, release all hostages, alive or deceased, and the immediate launch of negotiations on implementation mechanisms,” it said.

They further commended Hamas’s announcement of “its readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a transitional Palestinian administrative committee of independent technocrats,” emphasizing the need for the immediate launch of negotiations to agree on mechanisms to implement the proposal and address all of its aspects.

The foreign ministers also welcomed Trump’s call on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing and to begin implementation of the exchange agreement,” expressing appreciation for his commitment to establishing peace in the region.

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The ministers affirmed that these developments represent “a real opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and to address the critical humanitarian conditions facing people in the Gaza Strip.”

The foreign ministers reiterated their joint commitment to supporting efforts to implement the proposal, end the war in Gaza, and reach “a comprehensive agreement” ensuring unrestricted humanitarian aid, no displacement of Palestinians, and the protection of civilians.

They also called for the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, unifying Gaza and the West Bank, full Israeli withdrawal, Gaza’s reconstruction, and a just peace based on the two-state solution.

The joint statement came a day after Egypt announced that it would host Israeli and Hamas delegations on Monday to discuss field arrangements and details for the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners under Trump’s ceasefire proposal.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000 others since Oct. 7, 2023, according to an update by Gaza’s health authorities, in addition to destroying infrastructure and causing famine in the enclave.