Qatar, Jordan, others support Trump’s Gaza peace plan

A group of Arab and majority-Muslim countries led by Qatar on Monday evening said they welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for peace in Gaza. Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt all said they were ready to work with the United States to finalize and implement the plan. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the 20-point plan on Monday.

The group of countries praised the plan’s provisions for unrestricted aid delivery, the release of all hostages, and the rebuilding of Gaza. They also expressed support for Trump’s announcement that he wouldn’t allow Israel to annex the West Bank, and for his intent to eventually hand control of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian government in a two-state solution. Qatar planned to hold talks on Tuesday with negotiators from Hamas and Turkey to discuss the plan, according to The Times of Israel.

If Hamas agrees to the peace plan, how will Arab and Muslim nations help implement it? The plan says Jordan and Egypt, and possibly other Arab partners, will provide advice and help develop a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza. The force will train and support vetted Palestinian police in Gaza. Both forces will work to bring in humanitarian aid, secure border areas, and demilitarize the territory, according to the plan.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s breakdown of the peace plan.