India, Aug. 2 -- Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar have welcomed US President Donald Trump's roadmap for implementing a Gaza peace plan, while insisting that lasting peace depends on a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory and progress towards an independent Palestinian state. The phased plan, unveiled on Thursday, is expected to begin within two weeks of formal approval by all parties. It builds on an earlier 20-point peace framework negotiated over the past eight months following hostage releases and the return of bodies.

Saudi Arabia described the agreement on the disarmament of armed groups in Gaza as a positive step and praised the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, the United States and other international partners. In a...