Pakistan, along with other Muslim countries, on Sunday welcomed the Palestinian group Hamas’s response to a peace proposal aimed at ending bloodshed in Gaza.

According to the joint communique, the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt said Hamas’s announcement to halt hostilities, release all hostages (alive or dead) and begin negotiations on implementation mechanisms represents an important development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the foreign ministers of eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries welcomed the positive response from Hamas to the US proposal — put forward by President Donald Trump — aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, securing the release of hostages and establishing a path to peace.

The statement welcomed President Trump’s appeal to Israel to stop bombardments and to begin implementing an agreement on prisoner exchanges, and it commended his efforts to help restore peace in the region.

The ministers said that the development offers a real opportunity to establish a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, stressing the urgency of such a prospect amid what they called the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The communique also expressed approval of Hamas’s reported willingness to transfer Gaza’s administration to an interim Palestinian administrative committee.

The statement stressed that immediate negotiations should begin to determine the procedures for implementing the proposal and to resolve all outstanding issues.

Reaffirming their commitment, the ministers said that they would continue coordinated efforts to secure an immediate end to fighting in Gaza, ensure unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, prevent forced displacement of Palestinians, protect civilians, secure the release of Israeli hostages, and facilitate the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza.

They added that the ultimate objective is a comprehensive agreement that paves the way for Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction of Gaza, and a durable peace based on a two-state solution.