The Ambassador of Palestine to Nigeria, Muhannad Hammouri, has declared that there is no alternative to the United States–brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas, describing the initiative as the only viable path to end the two-year conflict in Gaza.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, Hammouri said the peace agreement—initiated by US President Donald Trump—offers the best chance to stop the bloodshed and restore stability in the region.
“The peace deal announced by President Trump between Israel and Hamas marked a significant development in the two-year-old conflict,” Hammouri said. “It includes a prisoner-hostage swap and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.”
The deal, known as the Trump Initiative, outlines a 20-point framework featuring a complete ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
According to the ambassador, Hamas has agreed to release all 20 Israeli hostages still alive in Gaza, while Israel will release an equal number of Palestinian prisoners. However, he noted that the agreement does not yet determine who will govern Gaza after the ceasefire, saying that issue would be resolved in future negotiations.
Both Israelis and Palestinians reportedly welcomed the truce, with celebrations breaking out in Gaza and Israel. The deal has also gained backing from international leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for the initiative, though it has faced resistance from some far-right Israeli factions.
Hammouri acknowledged that challenges remain, especially regarding the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and ensuring credible guarantees for the ceasefire’s implementation.
He stressed that the greatest value of the deal lies in ending the daily killings and destruction in Gaza.
“It stops the war; it stops the daily killing of women, children, and the elderly,” he said. “Now we hope Israel will stop the attacks after the Trump Initiative is implemented. This is the main asset for us.”
The ambassador called on the international community, including Arab nations and Europe, to take the lead in rebuilding Gaza after years of devastation. He said thousands of children have been orphaned and many women widowed, adding that efforts to locate bodies buried under rubble continue.
According to Hammouri, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, with thousands more injured or displaced. He urged the global community to prioritise humanitarian aid and ensure that the peace deal is fully enforced.
Reflecting on the human cost of the war, Hammouri said:
“I hope this is a lesson to Israel too — that Palestinians can never be kicked out of their country. What happened in Gaza showed how Palestinians are steadfast to their land.”
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