Hamas had yet to formally respond on Tuesday to the new Gaza peace plan presented by former U.S. President Donald Trump, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly endorsed it. The wide-ranging proposal outlines a path toward ending the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, but uncertainty remains over whether the Palestinian militant group will accept the conditions.
The plan, announced during a joint press conference in Washington, includes a ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, full disarmament of the group, and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. A transitional post-war authority, to be headed by Trump himself, would then be established to administer the territory.
On Monday, a senior Hamas official said the group had not received the plan directly. However, sources later confirmed that Qatari and Egyptian mediators delivered the full 20-point document to Hamas negotiators. According to reports, the group agreed to study the proposal “in good faith” and promised a formal response soon.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad reportedly met with Hamas representatives to present the plan, underscoring the role of regional powers in facilitating the peace effort.
Hamas Yet to Respond to Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan
Following the press conference, Netanyahu released a video statement confirming Israel’s support for the plan—though with some reservations. He reiterated that the Israeli military would remain in most of the Gaza Strip during the transitional phase, and stated clearly that he did not endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“We will recover all our hostages, alive and well, while the Israeli military will remain in most of the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said. He emphasized that if Hamas rejects the plan or attempts to manipulate it, Israel will act unilaterally to complete its military objectives.
Still, the proposal has drawn criticism from within Netanyahu’s own coalition. Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, condemned the deal, calling it a “resounding diplomatic failure.” He warned that it could ultimately lead to further conflict, stating, “Our children will be forced to fight in Gaza again.”
From Washington, Trump described the announcement as a “beautiful day,” declaring that peace in the Middle East was “beyond very close.” His proposal includes the deployment of a temporary international stabilization force and the establishment of a transitional governing body led by himself and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Blair, a controversial figure in the region due to his role in the 2003 Iraq War, praised the initiative as “bold and intelligent.” The deal would require Hamas to fully disarm and exclude its members from future governance roles. However, it offers amnesty to those willing to accept peaceful coexistence.
Netanyahu, while backing the plan overall, expressed doubt about the involvement of the Palestinian Authority in any future Gaza governance. Trump also noted that Netanyahu had strongly opposed a two-state solution during their meetings, even though the plan leaves the door open for potential Palestinian statehood.
“If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President,” Netanyahu said, “then Israel will finish the job by itself.”
Trump, in turn, pledged his “full backing” for any Israeli military action should Hamas decline the deal.
The plan has received widespread international attention. Key Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, praised the effort. Western allies such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy expressed their support as well, with EU leadership urging all parties to “give peace a genuine chance.”
But in Gaza, many residents reacted with deep skepticism. Ibrahim Joudeh, a 39-year-old displaced civilian in the humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi, said the conditions outlined in the plan were “unrealistic.”
“It’s drafted with conditions that the U.S. and Israel know Hamas will never accept,” he said. “That means the war and the suffering will continue.”
Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes and ground operations persisted across Gaza. The Israeli military reported that more than 160 targets were struck in the last 24 hours, including weapon caches, observation posts, and Hamas infrastructure.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank and may be tapped to participate in Gaza’s post-war future, welcomed Trump’s “sincere and determined efforts.” In contrast, Hamas ally Islamic Jihad rejected the proposal, accusing Israel and the United States of attempting to impose through diplomacy what they failed to achieve militarily.
“Through this, Israel is attempting—via the United States—to impose what it could not achieve through war,” the group said.
The current conflict was triggered by Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Since then, Israel’s response has left much of Gaza in ruins, with more than 66,000 Palestinians—also mostly civilians—killed, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave.
As Hamas reviews the 20-point proposal, the group stands at a critical crossroads. Accepting the plan would mean giving up its military power and political control in Gaza. Rejecting it could invite further devastation.
With growing pressure from regional and global powers, the choice Hamas makes in the coming days may determine whether the bloodshed ends—or deepens.
Source- EWN
