"We are currently awaiting Hamas's response to the plan, and they have three or four days to respond," Trump said in remarks from the White House. "Either Hamas accepts the plan or it doesn't, and if it doesn't, it will be a very unfortunate end."
He continued, "Washington wants the hostages released immediately, and Hamas no longer has much room to negotiate a peace plan."
For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that it is imperative at this stage for all parties to adhere to the plan announced by US President Donald Trump to stop the war on the Gaza Strip.
This came in a statement issued by the UN Secretariat on Tuesday, commenting on Trump's plan to stop the war on Gaza. The statement quoted Guterres as welcoming the plan, which aims to "achieve a ceasefire and sustainable peace in Gaza and the entire region."
Guterres expressed his appreciation for the "important role" played by Arab and Islamic countries in achieving this goal, emphasizing that "our priority must be to alleviate the immense suffering caused by this conflict."
He reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, ensuring unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. He also expressed hope that the Trump plan would create the conditions conducive to achieving a two-state solution.
UN support for peace initiatives
In this context, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, announced that they are not party to Trump's plan for a ceasefire in Gaza, but are ready to support all peace initiatives.
During a joint press conference with Alessandra Vellucci, Director of Communications at the Geneva Office, Larkey stated that "the United Nations did not participate in preparing the draft plan and therefore has no information about its content."
He continued, "The United Nations and humanitarian organizations are ready and able to increase aid distribution in the Gaza Strip," noting that "the aid is stored and ready to be dispatched, and its cost is being covered by donors."
For her part, Vellucci affirmed that the office continues to communicate with the parties regarding peace efforts, adding: "We welcome all mediation efforts. Of course, we are ready to support any peace plan, including providing humanitarian aid."
On Monday, at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump outlined the key elements of his 20-point plan to end the war, including the release of Israeli prisoners within 72 hours, the disarmament of Hamas, and a ceasefire.
The plan's announcement comes as the Israeli occupation army continues its deployment in several key areas of Gaza City, while continuing to bomb and shell buildings and residential facilities in those areas as part of its efforts to occupy the city and displace Palestinians from it.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 66,097 martyrs and 168,536 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 453 Palestinians, including 150 children.
