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Sources Xinhua

CAIRO, Oct. 5 -Eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Indonesia, issued a joint statement Sunday welcoming Hamas’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire proposal for Gaza.
The foreign ministers praised Hamas’s declared readiness to accept the plan, which calls for a cessation of hostilities, the release of all captives, and the establishment of negotiations to agree on implementation mechanisms. They also noted Hamas’s announcement of its willingness to hand over Gaza’s administration to a transitional committee of independent technocrats, describing it as a constructive step toward Palestinian reconciliation.
The statement further welcomed Trump’s appeal to Israel to halt its bombardment and begin implementing the proposed exchange arrangement. Ministers expressed appreciation for Washington’s renewed commitment to ending the conflict and fostering regional peace.
The countries emphasized that the initiative presents a “real opportunity” to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, improve dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and secure unrestricted aid delivery. They underscored the importance of preventing forced displacement, protecting civilians, and ensuring Gaza’s reconstruction.
Reaffirming their joint commitment, the ministers called for a broader agreement that would return the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, unify it with the West Bank, and ultimately ensure full Israeli withdrawal in line with a two-state solution.
The joint statement was released a day before planned talks in Cairo between Israeli and Hamas delegations on practical arrangements for the exchange of hostages and prisoners, a key element of Trump’s proposal.
Gaza’s health authorities report that since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has killed over 67,000 Palestinians and wounded nearly 170,000, while devastating infrastructure and driving the enclave toward famine.