Modi Welcomes Trump’s “Sincere Efforts” in Ending Gaza War
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: With all the 20 remaining living hostages returning to Israel, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed their release and said India supported the US President Donald Trump’s “sincere efforts” to bring peace to the region.
Hamas released the hostages after two years in captivity as part of the first phase of Mr Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan. “We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity,” Mr Modi said on ‘X’.
“Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he said. “We support President Trump’s sincere efforts to bring peace to the region,” Mr Modi added.
President Donald Trump arrived in Egypt on Monday for a global summit on Gaza’s future. Mr Trump praised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s as the two leaders appeared together before an international summit on the Gaza deal.
The U.S. and Egyptian Presidents are chairing a gathering of world leaders dubbed “Summit for Peace” on Monday. Israel and Hamas have no direct contacts and were not expected to attend the summit. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to the venue because of a Jewish holiday.
The summit comes as Hamas released 20 remaining living Israeli hostages and Israel started to free hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons. The Israeli prison service said on Monday it had freed nearly 2,000 mostly Palestinian detainees as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Benjamin Netanyahu described U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday as the “greatest friend” Israel has ever had in the White House. Mr Trump’s address to the Israeli Parliament was briefly interrupted as two left-wing lawmakers were expelled after their protest.
President Trump told Israeli lawmakers that their country had no more to achieve on the battlefield and must work toward peace in the Middle East after two years of war against Hamas and skirmishes with Hezbollah and Iran.
Mr Trump also hailed his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi saying he played a key role in negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. As they met in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, Mr Trump told reporters that Sisi “had a very important role with Hamas. In fact the general right here was very instrumental because Hamas respects this country, and they respect the leadership of Egypt.” “So, he played a very important role, I appreciate it very much,” he said.
Mr Sisi in turn said Mr Trump was the “only one” who could bring peace to the Middle East. “I was sure you were the only one, Mr President, who can end this war… the only one capable of bringing peace to our region,” Mr Sisi said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
