Arab Nations Endorse Trump's Gaza Plan, Insist on Palestinian Statehood

Donald Trump's Gaza peace initiative has won a major diplomatic boost from the Arab world, with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar backing the proposed roadmap while making it clear that peace cannot stop at a ceasefire.

In separate statements, the three countries welcomed progress on the US-backed plan after Hamas agreed to a roadmap that would see it relinquish its weapons and step away from governing Gaza. But they also stressed that any lasting settlement must include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, sustained humanitarian access and a political process leading to an independent Palestinian state.

The endorsement marks one of the strongest regional responses yet to the US-led peace initiative, which follows months of negotiations involving Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, the United States and the Board of Peace.

Saudi Arabia described the agreement as a "historic" step and urged all parties to implement it in a timely, credible and irreversible manner. Riyadh said the roadmap must include the deployment of an International Stabilization Force, unhindered humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts, while restoring the Palestinian Authority's role in Gaza. It also reiterated that the process should ultimately lead to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

Jordan echoed those demands, calling for the complete withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza, unrestricted humanitarian relief and a clear timeline for implementing every phase of the agreement. Amman said the roadmap should become the foundation for a two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Qatar, one of the principal mediators in the conflict, welcomed Hamas's acceptance of the roadmap during a conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and Hamas political leader Khalil Al Hayya. Doha urged the international community to ensure Israel fulfils its commitments under the agreement and called for sustained international pressure to complete the roadmap and stabilise Gaza.

The diplomatic backing comes after US officials described Hamas's agreement to surrender its weapons and relinquish governance in Gaza as the most significant breakthrough since the ceasefire began.

Trump hailed the development as a turning point for the region.

"It's a great breakthrough. Nobody thought that would be possible to disarm Hamas," the US President said, arguing that the agreement represents one of the biggest diplomatic advances in the Middle East in recent months.

While the roadmap has now gained support from key Arab capitals, its success will ultimately depend on whether all parties implement the agreement and whether negotiations can move beyond a ceasefire toward a broader political settlement.

(With inputs from ANI)