Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed the progress in peace efforts in Gaza, describing the indications of the release of hostages as a “significant step forward.”
In his remarks, the Prime Minister emphasized that India would continue to “strongly support” all initiatives aimed at achieving a lasting peace. He also appreciated the leadership shown by US President Donald Trump in advancing these efforts.
In a post shared on X, PM Modi stated, “We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace.”
Earlier on Saturday (local time), US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to world leaders for their support and collective efforts to end the crisis unfolding in West Asia. He said he was looking forward to seeing the hostages return home.
Trump said, “I look forward to having the hostages come home to their parents, and having some of the hostages, unfortunately, you know the condition they’re in, come home likewise to their parents, because their parents wanted them just as much as though that young man or young woman were alive. So I just want to let you know that this is a very special day, maybe unprecedented in many ways.”
In his concluding remarks, the US President added, “We were given a tremendous amount of help. Everybody was unified in wanting this war to end and seeing peace in the Middle East, and we’re very close to achieving that.”
His video statement came shortly after he wrote on Truth Social: “Based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long-sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
According to The Times of Israel, Hamas announced on Friday that it had submitted its response to President Trump’s proposal for ending the Gaza war. The group declared that it is prepared to release all remaining hostages under the terms outlined in the plan and is ready to enter immediate negotiations with mediators to finalize the details.
The Times of Israel further reported that Hamas referred to pending discussions regarding the identities of approximately 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners and the bodies of slain Gazans who would be released in exchange for 48 hostages — of which 20 are believed to be alive.
Earlier this week, the White House unveiled a peace plan on Monday (local time) following a meeting between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan aims to bring an end to the two-year-old Gaza conflict.
The peace proposal outlines that Gaza will become a “deradicalised, terror-free zone” that poses no threat to its neighbours and will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who, as the plan notes, “have suffered more than enough.”
According to the plan, if both sides agree to the proposal, the war will immediately cease. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed-upon line to prepare for the release of hostages. During this period, all military operations—including aerial and artillery bombardments—will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for a complete, staged withdrawal.
