Norwegian NGO chief says 'peace cannot be built on exclusion' over Trump's Gaza plan, urges inclusion

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said Tuesday that elements of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan could help ease the humanitarian crisis but warned against sidelining Palestinians in shaping their future.

"History shows us: peace cannot be built on exclusion or dictates. Gaza’s people must not be sidelined in decisions about their own future. Governance imposed without Palestinian ownership risks deepening instability and despair," Jan Egeland said through the US social media company X.

He added: "The world owes Gaza’s civilians a united international effort to end the massive loss of life, the starvation, and the hopelessness. They deserve safety, dignity, sustained humanitarian access, accountability for violations, and a political horizon grounded in rights and international law.

Noting that Trump’s plan has "many elements that could ease immense suffering," he said the NRC welcomes the provisions that would protect civilians and provide the needed relief to a starving people as humanitarian workers in Gaza.

He said the plan should "end the bombardment and open all crossings for life-saving aid," "release hostages and detainees," and "mobilise massive support for recovery and rebuilding."

Egeland stressed that "for this plan to become a reality on the ground, civil society - including the UN, INGOs and Palestinian NGOs - must be able to freely operate," and insisted that "the plan’s promise of UN-led aid delivery must be upheld."