Global Reactions: Cautious Optimism from Middle East and Europe
World leaders voiced cautious optimism about Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Gaza war, stressing that any breakthrough now hinges on Hamas’s response. In statements that carried a mix of support and measured prudence, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt signaled willingness to cooperate with the United States to push the plan forward.
Despite the broad welcome, many officials and analysts stressed that the plan’s success depends on the element most central to the conflict: Hamas. The absence of a Hamas negotiating delegation and the plan’s demand that the group renounce governance of Gaza raised serious questions about feasibility and the likelihood of a durable ceasefire.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron joined others in urging Hamas to engage, with Starmer calling on Hamas to accept the plan and “end the misery,” while Macron said Hamas had little choice but to follow the framework. Former Obama and Biden administration officials described the plan as a “good deal,” underscoring that international pressure must be applied to bring Hamas to the table.
In Washington, diplomats argued that with a broad regional bloc and Arab partners endorsing the plan, the next steps should concentrate pressure on Hamas through a coordinated diplomatic push led by Qatar, Turkey and allied mediators. Yet even among allies, there was clear caution about how the plan would translate on the ground in Gaza and in the West Bank.
What the Plan Envisions: Key Elements and Mechanisms
At the core, the plan proposes an immediate ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange, followed by a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. It also calls for Hamas disarmament and the establishment of a transitional government overseen by an international body, a “Board of Peace,” with a view to stabilizing Gaza until the Palestinian Authority can implement reforms and advance a two-state framework.
The board would be led by a figure associated with the plan’s authorship and include representatives from multiple countries and international organizations. The transitional authority would supervise governance, security, and aid flows while aims for a comprehensive, negotiated peace remain on the horizon.
The Palestinian Authority’s prime concern, reflected by regional partners, is that any final settlement must preserve the prospects for a two-state solution and end the status quo that has left Gaza in limbo for years. Analysts note that a credible path to elections, governance reform, and accountability remains essential to any lasting peace.
Voices from Gaza: Skepticism Amid Fragile Hope
In Gaza, residents expressed a mix of hope and deep weariness. Ibrahim Joudeh, speaking to AFP from southern Gaza, called the plan “unrealistic,” arguing that its conditions are designed to be unacceptable to Hamas. Abu Mazen Nassar warned that handing over prisoners “without official guarantees to end the war” amounts to manipulation and could prolong the suffering. “Hamas has drowned us in the flood it created,” he said, capturing a common fear that any deal might collapse beneath political contradictions.
Even as doubt persisted, some Gazans saw a potential spark. Anas Sorour, a 31-year-old street vendor, said, “despite everything we’ve lived through, I still have hope,” adding that the war could yield a moment of joy if hostages are freed and relief flows in. Yet the daily reality—airstrikes and casualties near Gaza City and surrounding areas—remains a grim backdrop to political talk.
Israel and the Road Ahead: A Fragile Spark of Ending the War
In Israel, public sentiment mixed cautious relief with worry about dashed expectations. Tel Aviv hosts demonstrations over hostages and war fatigue, with some residents expressing guarded optimism that negotiation avenues could finally narrow the conflict. Gal Goren, who lost family members in the Hamas-led assault, voiced cautious relief at the prospect of hostages returning home, while others feared a repeat cycle of promises and disappointment.
International Dynamics and the Path Forward
Diplomatic veterans highlighted that if Hamas accepts the framework, broad regional backing and outside guarantees could create a pressure matrix that makes a sustained ceasefire possible. The involvement of high-profile figures and foreign ministries signals a potential shift from episodic truces to a more durable strategy, but the night’s uncertainties insist that any plan must be adaptable, verifiable, and respectful of Palestinian rights.
Monday’s violence near Gaza, with reports of casualties, underscores the human cost that underpins every policy decision. As the international community weighs the plan’s merit, the next phase will determine whether the Board of Peace and its international partners can translate political consensus into a tangible, living halt to the fighting.
