ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday welcomed therecent statement by Palestinian resistance group Hamas accepting keyelements of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, describing it asa critical opportunity to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
The development follows Hamas’ announcement that it would accept majorcomponents of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal, including the release ofhostages. However, the group emphasized that further negotiations wereneeded regarding details and its role in shaping Gaza’s future. While seenas a potential breakthrough, contentious issues such as disarmament remainunresolved.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also urged Israel to immediately halt itsbombing campaign in Gaza in light of Hamas’ response.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed hopethat the move could pave the way for peace.“Alhamdolillah, we are closer to a ceasefire than we have been since thisgenocide was launched on the Palestinian people,” he wrote.
The Prime Minister extended gratitude to President Trump and the leadershipof Muslim nations including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Jordan,Egypt, and Indonesia for advancing the Gaza peace initiative.
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“The statement issued by Hamas creates a window for a ceasefire andensuring peace that we must not allow to close again,” he said.“InshaAllah, Pakistan will continue to work with all its partners andbrotherly nations to everlasting peace in Palestine.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding stance, Shehbaz Sharif stressed thatthe country has always supported the Palestinian cause — and always will.
Earlier, Hamas had confirmed its readiness to release hostages held in Gazaunder Trump’s proposed peace framework, while insisting on further talksregarding the future governance of the Palestinian territory.