(Washington) US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday “something special, a first” in peace negotiations in the Middle East, on the eve of a visit to Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu at the White House.
“We have a real chance of achieving something big in the Middle East. Everyone is ready for something special, a first. We will get there, ”he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
During an exchange with journalists on Friday, Donald Trump had already said to have “agreement” on Gaza, after having presented a new peace plan in several Arab and Muslims countries in the week as well as Benyamin Netanyahu.
“It will be an agreement that will bring the hostages back. This will be an agreement that will end the war, ”promised the American president.
According to a diplomatic source, the American plan in 21 points provides in particular a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages held in the Palestinian territory, an Israeli withdrawal as well as a future governance of Gaza without Hamas, whose unprecedented attacks of October 7, 2023 triggered the war.
According to British media, former Prime Minister Tony Blair could play a leading role in a future transitional authority in Gaza.
Photo Josie Desmarais, Archives La Presse
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
In the UN Tribune on Friday, Benyamin Netanyahu castigated the recognition of the state of Palestine by a dozen countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, earlier in the week.
The creation of a Palestinian state would be a “national suicide” for Israel, he launched, also promising to “finish work” against Hamas “as quickly as possible” in a gaza band ravaged by almost two years of war.
The attack on October 7, 2023 led to the Israeli side the death of 1219 people, mostly civilians, according to an assessment established by AFP from official data.
Of the 251 people kidnapped during the attack, 47 are still retained in Gaza, 25 of which are considered to be dead by the Israeli army.
The Israeli offensive carried out in retaliation on Gaza left 66,025 dead, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Ministry of Health of the Government of Hamas, deemed reliable by the UN.
