New Delhi: Muslim leaders in Pakistan and several Arab nations are facing a storm of criticism after endorsing US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which critics say undermines the Palestinian struggle for statehood. The plan, unveiled in Washington alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been denounced as a “sell-out” and a “betrayal of the Ummah.”
The proposal calls for Hamas to disarm and for Gaza to be governed temporarily by a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump, with Arab states funding reconstruction. Israel would withdraw in phases, but sovereignty for Palestinians remains undefined. For many, the plan legitimises Israel’s control while stripping Palestinians of their rights.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir were praised by Trump for their support, a move that has shocked many at home. Pakistan, which has never recognised Israel, is accused of crossing a historic red line. Journalists, activists, and citizens branded Sharif and Munir “traitors to the Ummah.” Social media erupted with posts showing AI-generated images of Pakistani leaders marching with Israeli flags, accompanied by hashtags condemning “Zionist Pakistan.”
Arab leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Qatar, also backed the plan, pledging aid and transitional oversight. But the applause abroad has been met with anger on the streets of Cairo, Karachi, and beyond. Critics say Muslim rulers surrendered Palestinian self-determination for geopolitical favors.
Hamas has already rejected key terms, including disarmament and exile of its cadres, and has demanded amendments. Public anger, meanwhile, shows no signs of cooling, with Muslim citizens worldwide calling their leaders “backstabbers of Palestine.”
