Eight Muslim-majority states back Trump’s Gaza peace plan amid skepticism

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, and four other Muslim-majority nations on Tuesday formally endorsed US President Donald Trump’s plan to halt the Israeli genocide in Gaza, an initiative that has divided opinions.

After days of speculation, the White House unveiled a 20-point framework on Monday aimed at ending nearly two years of Israel's warn on Gaza. The plan outlines a permanent ceasefire, the release of Israeli prisoners, and a roadmap for Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.

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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt

🔗⬇️https://t.co/qYtoA87qi2 pic.twitter.com/vPM4tsk1wF

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 29, 2025

Trump hailed Pakistan’s support in particular, citing a statement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on X that praised the initiative as an “urgent and vital step” toward peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also backed the plan, warning Hamas of “further destruction” if it refuses to comply.

I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza.

I am also convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region.

It is also my firm belief that…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 29, 2025

Yet reactions on the ground remain starkly divided. Several Palestinian factions dismissed the proposal as a political maneuver designed to free Israeli hostages rather than secure genuine peace.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad branded it “a recipe for continued aggression,” accusing Israel of using Washington to impose terms it failed to achieve militarily. Hamas said it had not yet received the plan and would respond once it had reviewed it.

The Palestinian Authority, sidelined for years in negotiations, welcomed what it called Trump’s “sincere efforts” to end the bloodshed. European governments have urged Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal, underscoring the pressure on Palestinian groups.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe deepens. Since Israel’s ground and air offensive began on October 7, 2023, more than 65,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, while much of the enclave has been reduced to rubble. The United Nations recently decalred that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza.

Despite international endorsements, many in Gaza remain skeptical. Residents describe the proposal as a façade that does little to address their suffering.

The plan also controversially suggests forming a transitional governing body for Gaza that would include Trump himself and former British prime minister Tony Blair, a proposal that has fueled further debate about outside control over Palestinian land.