UAE joins 7 nations in welcoming Hamas' steps to Trump's Gaza proposal

The UAE has joined Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt in welcoming the steps taken by Hamas towards US President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war on Gaza.

Under Trump's plan, all Israeli hostages, alive and deceased, were due to be released within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the agreement. Israel says 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are alive.

Trump said on Friday he believed Hamas had shown it was "ready for a lasting PEACE".

In a joint statement, Foreign Ministers of the eight countries also welcomed Trump’s call on Israel to immediately halt strikes and begin implementation of the exchange agreement.

They affirmed that it represents a real opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, and to address the critical humanitarian conditions facing people in Gaza Strip.

The ministers also welcomed Hamas' readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a transitional Palestinian Administrative Committee of independent technocrats, and called for an immediate need for negotiations to agree on mechanisms of the proposal.

The 7 nations reiterated their joint commitment to support efforts towards the implementation of the proposal and work for the immediate end of the war on Gaza based on the two-state solution.