New Delhi [India], October 9 (ANI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'unqualified' praise of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the agreement on the first phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan in Gaza, calling it 'shocking, shameful and morally atrocious.'

In a post on X, the Congress leader slammed Prime Minister Modi's 'silence' on the future of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine.

He also accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of 'unleashing a genocide in Gaza' over the past 20 months.

Jairam Ramesh posted on X, 'The Prime Minister has welcomed the new developments regarding Gaza and hailed President Trump. That eagerness to do so is not surprising. But what is shocking, shameful, and morally atrocious is Mr. Modi's unqualified praise for the Israeli PM Mr. Netanyahu - who has unleashed a genocide in Gaza over the past twenty months.'

'Mr. Modi has also maintained a total silence on the future of an independent, sovereign state of Palestine that was recognised by India way back in Nov 1988, and that is now recognised by over 150 countries. Mr. Modi has also said nothing on the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank,' the post added.

https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1976187155702800427?s=08

The Congress MP's statement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the agreement on the first phase of President Donald Trump's peace plan on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said this development reflects the strong leadership of his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.

He expressed hope that the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring much-needed respite and pave the way for lasting peace in the region.

'We welcome the agreement on the first phase of President Trump's peace plan. This is also a reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu. We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace,' PM Modi posted on X.

Qatar's Prime Minister and official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al Ansari, on Thursday said that an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Ansari said that the deal covered the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.In a post on X, he wrote, 'The mediators announce that tonight an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid. The details will be announced later.'Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also hailed what he calls 'a great day for Israel', saying he will 'convene the government tomorrow [Thursday] to approve the agreement and bring all our precious kidnapped people home.'He thanked the Israeli military and security forces, as well as US President Donald Trump and his team, 'for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our kidnapped people'.Hamas has released its first public statement since US President Trump said the Palestinian group and Israel had 'signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan'.

In a post on Telegram, Hamas announced the 'conclusion of an agreement stipulating an end to the war on Gaza, the occupation's withdrawal from it, the entry of aid, and a prisoner exchange', as per Al Jazeera.

The statement called on the US leader, Arab mediators and international parties to 'compel the occupation government [Israel] to fully implement the agreement's requirements and not allow it to evade or delay the implementation of what has been agreed upon'.

The group concluded by saying it will remain 'faithful to our pledge and will not abandon our people's national rights, including freedom, independence, and self-determination,' Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)