Hamas has yet to officially respond to US President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared support while insisting Israeli forces would remain in most of the territory.
The 20-point plan, unveiled Monday, calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, the group’s disarmament, and a phased Israeli withdrawal. It also proposes a transitional authority headed by Trump himself, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as part of the arrangement.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators confirmed they shared the document with Hamas negotiators, who said they would review it “in good faith” before issuing a response.
In a statement after meeting Trump, Netanyahu said: “We will recover all our hostages, alive and well, while the [Israeli military] will remain in most of the Gaza Strip.” He reiterated his rejection of a Palestinian state, a stance Trump acknowledged was at odds with elements of the plan.
Still, Netanyahu told Trump, “I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims,” adding that if Hamas rejected the deal or undermined it, Israel would “finish the job by itself.” Trump assured him of America’s “full backing” in such a scenario.
The plan drew mixed global reactions. Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar hailed it as a sincere effort, while European leaders from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy voiced strong support. EU chief Antonio Costa urged all parties to “seize this moment.”
In Gaza, however, residents expressed deep scepticism. “It’s clear that this plan is unrealistic,” said 39-year-old Ibrahim Joudeh, displaced from Rafah. “It’s drafted with conditions Hamas will never accept. For us, that means the war and the suffering will continue.”
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes intensified, with the military reporting over 160 targets hit across Gaza in the past day. The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has since devastated Gaza, leaving more than 66,000 Palestinians dead, mostly civilians, according to local health authorities.
What you should know
Trump’s Gaza peace plan introduces a transitional authority under his leadership, a ceasefire, and Hamas’s disarmament.
While Netanyahu supports it with caveats, Hamas remains undecided. Global powers largely back the proposal, but Gazans and Hamas allies view it as unrealistic, fearing prolonged conflict.
