Saudi Arabia welcomed a new ceasefire in Gaza and the start of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the conflict. The kingdom’s foreign ministry said the agreement is a step toward lasting peace and praised the U.S. effort and the mediation work of Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.
The statement highlighted Saudi Arabia’s hope that the deal will speed up help for Palestinians in Gaza, lead to a full Israeli pull‑out from the strip, and set the stage for a two‑state solution. The country reiterated its support for an independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Israel backs Trump’s Gaza peace plan
In Israel, the government approved a ceasefire and hostage‑release agreement that follows President Trump’s 20‑point Gaza Peace Plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an urgent meeting of the security cabinet and later met with ministers to discuss the deal.
The Israeli cabinet voted in favor of the first phase of the agreement, which calls for Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza and an exchange of hostages—those alive and those lost in earlier fighting. The ceasefire is set to go live immediately, according to U.S. news outlets.
U.S. diplomatic efforts were highlighted in the meeting. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son‑in‑law, Jared Kushner, were present as Israel confirmed the U.S.-bargained deal. The government announced that details for releasing all hostages would be shared over the coming days, with an initial release expected by Monday or Tuesday.
Forces on the ground
Amid the political negotiations, a new Israeli strike hit a Hamas cell in northern Gaza’s Al‑Sabra neighbourhood. The Gaza Civil Defence said that the attack trapped more than 40 Palestinians under rubble. Rescue teams worked to pull survivors from collapsed buildings, filming a rescue in which a child was lifted out of a dust‑covered wreck.
Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted a “terrorist cell posing an immediate threat.” The IDF statement could not be verified by the news outlet. The clash underscores the volatility that still surrounds the ceasefire negotiations.
Trump’s view on the breakthrough
President Trump celebrated the ceasefire as a “momentous breakthrough” in the Middle East and pledged that the war in Gaza would end. He said the U.S. had secured the release of all hostages, and the next steps would involve further talks in Egypt and an official signing ceremony. He framed the agreement as part of his record of ending wars worldwide, emphasizing that the Trump administration had “brought a number of wars to a close.”
Whether the ceasefire will hold and the humanitarian conditions improve remain to be seen. Saudi Arabia’s statement, along with Israel’s approval of the first phase, points to a new, hopeful chapter in the Gaza conflict, but the debate over a comprehensive peace plan and the full safety of hostages continues.
Keywords: Gaza ceasefire, Trump peace plan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, humanitarian relief, hostage release, two‑state solution, Hamas.
Source: aninews
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