PM Modi welcomes Trump-brokered Israel-Hamas peace plan

New Delhi, Oct 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the agreement on the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan between Israel and Hamas, calling it a “reflection of the strong leadership” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a hopeful step toward restoring peace in Gaza.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “We welcome the agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan. This is also a reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu. We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace.”

PM Modi’s statement came soon after President Trump announced that both Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of what he described as a “Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”

The plan includes the release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals to agreed lines, and expanded humanitarian aid into Gaza.

A ceasefire in Gaza is set to take effect within 24 hours of approval by the Israeli cabinet, a government spokeswoman announced.

The Israeli cabinet and security cabinet are meeting this afternoon and are widely expected to endorse the plan.

Earlier in the day, Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of the agreement in Egypt.

The deal includes provisions for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza, and the daily entry of hundreds of aid trucks into the territory.

According to Israeli officials, the hostage release is expected to begin within 72 hours of the ceasefire taking hold.

A senior Palestinian official told the BBC that Israel will also allow 400 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily, with the number to increase gradually in later stages.

A White House official confirmed that Hamas will release 20 living Israeli hostages as part of the initial phase.

President Trump, in his post on Truth Social, described the development as “a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America,” and thanked Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for mediating the historic deal.

The White House later said President Trump is “considering travelling to the Middle East” in the coming days.

The breakthrough, reached after weeks of negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh involving US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators, marks the most tangible progress since 7 October 2023, when war between Israel and Hamas began after a Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis.

According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 67,183 people, including more than 20,000 children, have been killed in Israeli military operations over the last two years.

Media reported that Hamas said the agreement would “end the war on Gaza, ensure the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces, allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and implement a prisoner exchange.”

The group thanked Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and President Trump for their mediation, urging Washington to ensure Israel’s compliance.

For India, which maintains strong diplomatic ties with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the development holds particular significance.

New Delhi has consistently backed dialogue-based peace initiatives and sent humanitarian assistance to Gaza.