European and Middle Eastern leaders have welcomed the new US peace plan for Gaza, while President Donald Trump warned Hamas to accept it.
The plan, agreed upon by Trump and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an immediate cessation of military operations.
It stipulates that within 72 hours Hamas must release 20 live Israeli hostages and the remains of more than two dozen hostages believed to be dead, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
A Palestinian source told the BBC that Hamas officials have been given the White House's 20-point plan.
The plan calls for Hamas to have no role in governing Gaza and leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.
Speaking at a press conference after talks at the White House, Trump called the plan "a historic day for peace."
Netanyahu, for his part, declared that Israel would "finish the job" if Hamas rejected the plan or did not implement it.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has called the US president's efforts "sincere and determined."
In a statement published by the WAFA news agency, the Palestinian Authority said it "renews its joint commitment to working with the United States, regional states and partners to end the war in Gaza, to ensure the sufficient distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and to release hostages and prisoners."
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan said they welcomed "Trump's leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza."
They stressed that they were ready to engage with the US to finalize and implement the agreement, which, according to them, should lead to a "two-state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state."
European Council President Antonio Costa said he was "encouraged by Prime Minister Netanyahu's positive response" to the proposal. He added that "all parties must seize this moment to give peace a real chance."
The proposal , if followed, would begin with an immediate cessation of military operations. It also states that existing “battle lines” would be lifted until conditions for an organized withdrawal are met. Hamas would hand over its weapons, and its tunnels and weapons production facilities would be destroyed.
For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 Gazans, the plan states.
The plan also stipulates that once both sides agree to the proposal, "full aid will be sent immediately to the Gaza Strip."
The US also outlines its plan for the future governance of Gaza.
It says a "technocratic and apolitical Palestinian committee" will govern temporarily "with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, called the Peace Board, which will be headed" by Trump./BBC
