Hamas welcomes Trump’s reversal on Gaza displacement plan
Washington, D.C.: Hamas has welcomed what appears to be a shift in US President Donald Trump’s stance on the permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
The response from Hamas followed Trump’s remarks during a White House meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Wednesday, where he stated, “Nobody is expelling any Palestinians from Gaza.”
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said, “If US President Trump’s statements represent a retreat from any idea of displacing the people of the Gaza Strip, they are welcomed.” He also urged that this position be reinforced by ensuring Israel adheres to all terms of ceasefire agreements.
Trump had previously sparked widespread outrage when he proposed a US takeover of Gaza and suggested permanently displacing its Palestinian population to neighbouring countries. His apparent reversal comes after a meeting in Qatar between Arab foreign ministers and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, where discussions focused on Gaza’s reconstruction.
According to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting included foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, along with the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
“The Arab foreign ministers discussed the Gaza reconstruction plan, which was approved at the Arab League Summit held in Cairo on March 4, 2025,” the ministry said in a statement. “They also agreed with the US envoy to continue consultations and coordination on this plan as a basis for reconstruction efforts in Gaza.”
On Saturday, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally adopted the Gaza reconstruction plan, which was led by Egypt and developed in response to Trump’s earlier proposal to take over the territory. The plan seeks to rebuild Gaza under the administration of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Meanwhile, ceasefire talks resumed in Qatar on Tuesday, with Witkoff dispatched to Doha for mediation. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said Arab ministers emphasised the importance of maintaining the ceasefire and working toward a just and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution.
On Sunday, Taher al-Nono, a political adviser to Hamas, confirmed that direct talks had taken place between Hamas and Washington in Doha. The discussions reportedly focused on the release of an American-Israeli dual national held by Hamas and the phased implementation of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Hamas representatives also held talks with Egyptian mediators, reiterating their readiness to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire. Israeli negotiators arrived in Doha on Monday as part of ongoing discussions.
The initial 42-day phase of the ceasefire expired earlier this month without an agreement from Israel on further steps toward ending the war. Since then, Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza, now in its 12th day, restricting the entry of food, fuel, and medicine. The blockade has been criticised as collective punishment, with accusations that Israel is using humanitarian aid as leverage to pressure Hamas.
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EAM Jaishankar holds talks with EU counterparts in Brussels, discusses Iran conflict
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his counterparts from the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) in Brussels focusing on global flashpoints in Ukraine and West Asia as well as ways to deepen India's relations with Europe.
Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to the Belgian capital at the invitation of EU Foreign and Security Policy Chief Kaja Kallas to attend a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the bloc.
It is the first high-level visit from India to Brussels headquartered EU after the two sides firmed up a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January.
The external affairs minister held separate meetings with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and his counterparts from Germany, Greece and Belgium.
"A new chapter in India-EU ties has opened up in 2026," Jaishankar said in an apparent reference to the outcomes reached by the two sides in their summit meeting in January in New Delhi.
"The Foreign Ministers coordinate translating the various agreements into outcomes. Our conversation today therefore covered trade, investment, technology, mobility and defence in particular," he said on social media.
"The stronger convergence between India and EU in a multipolar world is also expressed in closer consultations. Discussed the West Asia conflict, the Ukraine situation and the Indo-Pacific in today's gathering," he said.
Apart from the FTA, the India-EU summit produced a plethora of other outcomes including a security and defence partnership and a comprehensive framework for cooperation on mobility.
The Foreign Affairs Council discussed how to better protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, including possible contributions by the EU's naval mission Aspides, and a European security strategy, Kallas told reporters.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
The West Asia region has been a major source of India's energy procurement.
The closure of the strait is hurting the global economy and it is helping Moscow fund its war, Kallas said, days after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on procurement of Russian crude oil.
She said the focus on the Middle East should not take the focus away from the war in Ukraine, and the easing of US sanctions on Russian oil sets a "dangerous precedent".
Following his meeting with Von der Leyen, Jaishankar said her highly successful state visit to India in January marked a "turning point" in India-EU ties. "We are following up vigorously on it."
Von der Leyen said that the two sides had concluded a free trade agreement, "the mother of all deals", and signed the Security and Defence Partnership.
"Now we are focused on efficient implementation, to deliver for the people of Europe and India as soon as possible," she said.
"We also discussed developments in the Middle East and in Ukraine. De-escalation, stability and energy security are our shared objectives," she added.
After his talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar said they exchanged notes on the conflict in West Asia.
"A valuable exchange of notes on the conflict in West Asia. Also took stock of the progress of our bilateral relations following the State visit of @bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz to India," he said.
