Protests supporting Gaza take place in Europe

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum -- a body supporting and advocating for the families of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip -- said in a statement that it was "profoundly grateful" after President Donald Trump proposed the new Gaza ceasefire framework on Monday.

"We stand at a historic turning point," the forum said in a statement. "President Trump has accomplished what many said was impossible."

"This is a historic agreement that will allow our people to heal, end the war and chart a new future for the Middle East," the body added, praising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "for accepting President Trump’s initiative."

The ongoing fighting in Gaza, the forum said, "continues to endanger the fate of our hostages. There is no reason to risk their lives when Israel has adopted President Trump's historic initiative. The world must apply maximum pressure to ensure Hamas commits to this historic opportunity for peace."

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich -- whose Religious Zionism party is part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government -- on Tuesday criticized the proposed Gaza ceasefire plan as "a tragedy" that will "end in tears."

Smotrich, who is a prominent advocate of Israeli annexation of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, said in a post to X that the blueprint proposes surrendering "real achievements on the ground for political illusions."

The proposed involvement of regional Arab nations like Qatar, Jordan and Egypt in the security and governance of post-war Gaza represents "a resounding diplomatic failure," Smotrich said, and a return to what he called the "old-fashioned" mentality behind the 1993 Oslo Accords.

Smotrich set out six "red lines" for Netanyahu ahead of the latter's meeting with Trump on Monday. Despite his criticism of the deal on Tuesday, the finance minister did not say he would oppose the agreement.

"We will consult, consider, and decide, with God’s help," he wrote. "But the celebrations since yesterday are simply absurd."

Smotrich also expressed his hope that Hamas "obstinacy will once again save us from ourselves," if the group refuses to accept the latest proposal and the war continues.

European Union leaders expressed their backing for the Gaza ceasefire proposal announced by President Donald Trump on Monday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post to X that she would "encourage all parties to now seize this opportunity. The EU stands ready to contribute."

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said the plan "is an opportunity for lasting peace. It offers the best immediate chance to end the war."

"Hamas must now accept it without delay, starting with the immediate release of hostages," Kallas said.

European Council President Antonio Costa said he was "encouraged" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "positive response" to the proposal.

But both Costa and von der Leyen stressed that a two-state solution with the creation of an independent Palestinian state -- something Netanyahu has repeatedly said he will not allow -- is the only viable path to lasting peace.

The proposed plan does not include a clear commitment to a future independent Palestinian state.

The White House draft of the agreement says that, after the redevelopment of Gaza and reforms to the Palestinian Authority, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people."

Israeli warplanes bombed 160 targets across the Gaza Strip in the previous 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces said in a post to social media on Tuesday.

The IDF said it targeted enemy fighters, weapons storage facilities, observation posts and other "infrastructure" it said was being used by enemy forces.