U. S. President Donald Trump has given Hamas three to four days to accept a U. S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, warning of a “very sad end” if they reject it. The plan was shared with Hamas by mediators from Qatar and Egypt after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed it alongside Trump at the White House. The proposal calls for Hamas to disarm, which the group has previously rejected. However, a source indicated that Hamas would review the plan and respond.
Trump stated that Israeli and Arab leaders have already supported the plan, and he is waiting for Hamas’s decision. He emphasized that if Hamas does not accept it, there will be severe consequences. The peace plan includes an immediate ceasefire, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of a transitional government overseen by an international body.
A source close to Hamas criticized the plan as biased towards Israel and claimed it imposes conditions aimed at eliminating the group. Many components of this proposal have appeared in previous ceasefire deals that have both been accepted and rejected by Israel and Hamas. Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for releasing hostages, while still refusing to disarm.
A Palestinian official described Trump’s proposal as favoring Israeli terms and not addressing the rights of the Palestinian people. Conversely, Hamas faces significant pressure to accept the plan, with key foreign ministers from several Arab nations expressing support for it. Turkey’s intelligence head plans to join the mediators in Doha for discussions later.
It remains uncertain if Hamas leaders will take part in these talks, especially since a previous meeting led to an Israeli attack. Netanyahu, while initially supporting the plan, has expressed doubts about some parts, particularly regarding Palestinian statehood. He is under pressure from the Israeli public to end the conflict but risks upsetting his governing coalition if seen as making too many concessions.
In Gaza, some residents welcomed the peace plan, hoping for an end to the violence, but stressed the need for an end to the Israeli occupation. After the violent conflict following Hamas’s attack on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides, Israeli forces have intensified their operations in Gaza City, dropping leaflets urging residents to evacuate south.
With information from Reuters