NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan for Gaza, calling it a “significant step” toward ending the conflict.Sharing a post on X, PM Modi said, “We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward.”He further underlined that India will “continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace.”The comments come as Trump pushes for a breakthrough in the Gaza crisis, with hopes pinned on the release of hostages and renewed talks between the warring sides.Trump on Friday issued an ultimatum to Hamas to agree to a Gaza peace deal with Israel by Sunday, 6pm (Washington DC time), warning that “all hell, like no one has ever seen before,” would break out if the deadline was missed.In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.”Trump also urged Palestinians to move out of conflict zones ahead of what he hinted could be intensified strikes if Hamas rejected the deal. “Great, powerful, and very rich Nations of the Middle East, and the surrounding areas beyond, together with the United States of America, have agreed, with Israel signing on, to PEACE, after 3000 years, in the Middle East. THIS DEAL ALSO SPARES THE LIVES OF ALL REMAINING HAMAS FIGHTERS! The details of the document are known to the WORLD, and it is a great one for ALL! We will have PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other. The violence and bloodshed will stop. RELEASES THE HOSTAGES, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT ARE DEAD, NOW!” he added.Talking about the 20-point Gaza plan, he said that the Middle East nations had agreed to a peace plan “after 3000 years,” assuring to “spare the lives of remaining Hamas fighters.”The ultimatum follows Trump’s announcement of a 20-point Gaza peace plan earlier this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.Hamas has said it is ready to release hostages and transfer power to other Palestinian groups but noted that some parts of the plan still need further discussion among Palestinians.

'Significant step forward': PM Modi hails Trump's Gaza peace plan; affirms India's support