Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday categorically said that the 20-point Gaza peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump was different from the draft proposed by the Muslim countries including Pakistan.
“The 20-point [Gaza peace plan] made public by President Trump are truly not ours and changes have been made to our draft,” DPM Dar said while speaking during a National Assembly session.
The remarks come against the backdrop of a 20-point Gaza peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump, which includes a ceasefire, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament, and the establishment of a transitional government under an international body.
The US president had unveiled the proposal after a meeting with leaders of eight Muslim countries including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia.
Just hours before the US president’s announcement, PM Shehbaz Sharif had welcomed Trump’s plan, saying a durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel is essential for regional stability and economic growth.
However, since then, Pakistan has somewhat distanced itself from President Trump’s plan, with DPM Dar previously clarifying that the proposal was not the one that contained all of Pakistan’s suggestions.
Recalling the intent behind the Muslim countries’ engagement with the US on the issue, DPM Dar noted that it was an attempt to engage the US, which he said was the last hope, together with countries to stop the Gaza war as the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had failed to do so.
“The plan was to engage President Trump together,” DPM Dar said, adding: “Gaza is the graveyard of global consciousness”.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
