Hamas to Review Trump’s Gaza Peace Proposal Before Issuing Official Response

Hamas announced Tuesday that it will internally deliberate U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan for Gaza and consult with other Palestinian factions before issuing a formal response. The statement comes amid cautious optimism following Trump's unveiling of the initiative during White House talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

The plan, a 20-point framework aimed at halting the nearly two-year Israel-Hamas war, has garnered swift endorsement from Israel and pockets of international support, though its demands for Hamas's disarmament and governance renunciation pose steep hurdles. With Gaza's infrastructure in ruins and over 66,000 Palestinian deaths reported by the territory's Health Ministry since October 2023, the proposal offers a glimmer of relief through promised aid and reconstruction, but acceptance remains uncertain.

The Trump plan, first floated in variations discussed with Arab leaders earlier in September, envisions an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining Israeli hostages within 72 hours, and Hamas's full disarmament. In exchange, it pledges unrestricted humanitarian aid, including infrastructure rehabilitation for water, electricity, and hospitals, alongside safe passage for Hamas members opting to leave Gaza and amnesty for those committing to peaceful coexistence. Governance would shift to a technocratic Palestinian committee overseen by an international "Board of Peace" chaired by Trump, incorporating experts and figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Israeli forces would gradually withdraw, retaining a security perimeter until threats subside, while opening the Rafah crossing under prior aid agreements. Netanyahu hailed the outline as achieving Israel's war aims—deradicalising and demilitarising Gaza—while warning of intensified operations if rejected.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, speaking in Belgrade, reiterated Israel's commitment, accusing Hamas of historically dodging agreements. "We want to see our hostages come home after two years—alive or dead—and a different Gaza: deradicalised, demilitarised, and no longer a threat," Sa'ar said. The proposal builds on stalled January 2025 aid pacts and echoes elements from Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's prior Middle East efforts, potentially paving a pathway to Palestinian statehood discussions.

However, critics note its exclusion of Hamas from negotiations and vague enforcement mechanisms, raising doubts about sustainability in a conflict exacerbated by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages.

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Internationally, endorsements are mounting. The Kremlin, via spokesman Dmitry Peskov, expressed hope for success, welcoming Trump's role in ending the "ongoing tragedy" and offering Moscow's mediation based on its contacts with all parties. Regional leaders, including Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, have voiced support, with Arab and Muslim nations committing to reconstruction funding.

As Hamas weighs the terms—amid its portrayal as a surrender by some Gaza residents—the plan tests the fragile dynamics of a war that has displaced millions and strained global alliances. A Hamas rejection could prolong hostilities, while acceptance might mark a turning point, though analysts caution that deeper issues like settlements and statehood recognition linger unresolved.

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