The prime minister promises that Pakistan will work with all allies to bring about peace in Gaza.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump and important Muslim countries for their mediation efforts on Saturday, expressing hope that a long-awaited truce in Gaza is imminent.

The prime minister remarked on his official X account (previously Twitter) that Pakistan has “always stood with the Palestinian people” and will do so going forward, calling the recent events a positive step toward enduring peace.

“Thanks to President Trump and the leaderships of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia for holding talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA80), we are closer to a ceasefire than we have been since this genocide was launched on the Palestinian people,” Shehbaz wrote.

Pakistan will “continue to work with all its partners and brotherly nations” for lasting peace in Palestine, he stated, adding that Hamas’ most recent declaration “creates a window for a ceasefire and ensuring peace that we must not allow to close again.”

Trump claims that Hamas is “prepared for lasting peace.”

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump urged Israel to immediately stop its bombing campaign in Gaza and declared that Hamas was “ready for a lasting peace.” His comments came after Hamas formally responded to his 20-point plan to stop the war, which was partially approved but left important concerns unanswered.

Trump posted the following on Truth Social:

“I think Hamas is prepared for a sustainable peace based on the statement they just released. Israel needs to cease bombing Gaza right away so that we can swiftly and safely free the hostages! … This is about the long-sought PEACE in the Middle East, not only about Gaza.

Trump referred to it as a “historic day,” thanked nations that backed the peace initiative, and emphasized the humanitarian urgency of ending a war that has killed tens of thousands since October 2023 in a video statement subsequently made public by the White House.

Israel starts implementing Trump’s peace proposal.

Israeli media reported that the government was getting ready for the “immediate implementation” of the first step of the plan, which was centered on the release of Israeli hostages, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

According to military sources, bombing and shelling in areas of Khan Younis and Gaza City persisted even as some offensive operations were being reduced.

Even as diplomatic efforts gained momentum, witnesses reported more airstrikes in the Remal district and Talateeni Street.

Trump’s 20-point proposal for peace in Gaza

Trump’s plan lays forth a multi-phase plan to put an end to fighting and institute international supervision.
Important clauses consist of:

A ceasefire that is effective immediately

Palestinian detainees are traded for Israeli hostages.

An orchestrated military retreat by Israel

Taking Hamas’ weapons away

Establishment of a Transitional Governance Organization with Arab and Islamic Participation

Hamas has declared its willingness to hand up control of Gaza to a technocratic Palestinian organization backed by Arab and Muslim nations, and it has committed to free all hostages, even those who are still alive.

It did, however, reject calls for foreign-led government and disarmament, particularly the alleged involvement of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Response from Hamas: Conditional cooperation

Speaking to Al Jazeera, a senior Hamas official stated that the organization would not disarm until Israel completely withdraws its forces and ends its occupation.
He went on to say that “Palestinian national consensus” is required for any decisions pertaining to Gaza’s political destiny.

This position implies that although the militant organization is amenable to talks, fundamental disputes—specifically those pertaining to sovereignty and disarmament—remain unsolved.

Diplomacy in the region and outside is becoming more intense.

Since Trump’s statement, diplomatic activity has increased, with a number of Arab nations mediating to negotiate a humanitarian truce and enable hostage exchanges.

The laudation of Muslim leadership by Shehbaz Sharif underscores Pakistan’s wider diplomatic alignment with regional peace initiatives spearheaded by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey.

If the ceasefire continues, analysts say it might be the biggest diplomatic victory since the conflict began almost two years ago.