ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed progress on Hamas’ disarmament under the Gaza Peace Plan, hoping the move would pave the way for an independent Palestinian state.
Sharif’s statement came hours after US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas had been reached, calling it a critical step toward a new Palestinian government in Gaza.
The Palestinian group’s weapons have been one of the key sticking points in implementing a ceasefire deal in place since October 2025.
Hamas officials told AFP that a committee established by Trump’s Board of Peace to govern Gaza would oversee the process of storing its weapons.
“Pakistan welcomes developments under the Board of Peace toward implementation of the process of disarmament under the Gaza Peace Plan,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
“The mediating countries including the United States of America, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, deserve special appreciation for their efforts in achieving this progress.”
Sharif said Pakistan expresses the hope that “concrete steps” will be taken toward implementing all commitments under the Gaza Peace Plan.
He said Islamabad hopes that the Board of Peace’s efforts will lead to the realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine through a credible, time-bound political process, consistent with UN resolutions that would lead to an independent Palestinian state.
Hamas has said it expects the mediators and the Board of Peace to ensure Israel complies with the deal’s terms, which include Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
Despite the October ceasefire, violence has continued in Gaza, with Israeli strikes killing at least four people, including two children, on Thursday, according to health officials.
Egypt’s state-linked Al-Qahera News said Friday that Cairo will soon host a meeting soon of the truce mediators, which also include the United States, Qatar and Turkiye, focused on the second phase of the ceasefire plan.
Israel’s military actions in Gaza since October 7, 2023, have killed over 70,000 Palestinians and injured more.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has consistently called on the international community to prevent Israel from carrying out military operations in the West Bank and Gaza.
It has also called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds, Al-Sharif as its capital.
