Hamas Accepts Some Elements of Trump’s Gaza Plan, Calls for Further Consultations
Hamas has indicated that it is willing to accept certain aspects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The group stated that it would consider giving up power and releasing all remaining hostages as part of the plan. However, it emphasized that other elements of the proposal require further discussions among Palestinian factions.
This statement came shortly after Trump urged Hamas to agree to the deal by Sunday evening, warning of a potential escalation in military action if the agreement was not reached. There was no immediate response from the United States or Israel, which is largely closed due to the Jewish Sabbath.
Hamas expressed willingness to return all remaining hostages according to the plan’s “formula,” likely referring to the exchange of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. It also reaffirmed its openness to transferring power to an independent Palestinian authority. However, the group stressed that issues related to the future of Gaza and Palestinian rights should be decided based on a “unanimous Palestinian stance” and international law.
Notably, the statement did not mention Hamas disarming, a key demand included in Trump’s proposal.
Trump’s Peace Plan Aims to End the Conflict
Trump’s peace plan seeks to bring an end to the ongoing conflict and secure the release of hostages. He appears determined to fulfill his promises to end the war and return dozens of captives ahead of the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. While the plan has been accepted by Israel and welcomed internationally, key mediators such as Egypt and Qatar have expressed the need for further negotiations.
In a social media post, Trump warned that failure to reach the agreement could lead to “HELL, like no one has ever seen before” against Hamas. He insisted, “THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.”
Under the plan, Hamas would immediately release the remaining 48 hostages—approximately 20 of whom are believed to be alive—and give up power and disarm. In return, Israel would halt its offensive, withdraw from much of the territory, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction. Plans to relocate parts of Gaza’s population to other countries would be abandoned.
The territory, home to around 2 million Palestinians, would come under international governance, with Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing it. The plan does not provide a path for reunification with the Israeli-occupied West Bank in a future Palestinian state.
Palestinian Concerns and Hamas’ Position
Many Palestinians long for an end to the war, but they view this and previous U.S. proposals as favoring Israel. A senior Hamas official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, told Al Jazeera that the plan “cannot be implemented without negotiations.” He noted that it might be challenging for Hamas to release all hostages within 72 hours as the proposal dictates, given the time needed to locate some of the captives.
Abu Marzouk also mentioned that while Hamas is open to handing over its weapons to a future Palestinian authority, this was not included in the official statement. He criticized the proposal’s language about ridding Gaza of terrorists, as Hamas considers itself a national liberation movement. Additionally, he called for more information about the international forces that might assist in policing postwar Gaza.
Pressure on Hamas Intensifies
Israel has increased pressure on Hamas since ending an earlier ceasefire in March. It imposed a blockade on food, medicine, and other essential goods for two and a half months and has seized, flattened, and largely depopulated large areas of the territory.
Experts have determined that Gaza City had fallen into famine before Israel launched a major offensive aimed at occupying it. An estimated 400,000 people have fled the city in recent weeks, but many others remain behind.
Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office, described the dire conditions during a visit to Shifa Hospital, where displaced families were staying in the parking lot. She highlighted the challenges faced by vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
Trump claimed that most of Hamas’ fighters are “surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED,” suggesting they are waiting for orders to be eliminated. However, many of Hamas’ top leaders in Gaza and thousands of its fighters have already been killed, though the group still maintains influence in areas not fully controlled by the Israeli military.
The Second Anniversary of the Oct. 7 Attack
On Oct. 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Most of the captives have since been released through ceasefires or other agreements.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in over 66,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The ministry estimates that women and children make up about half of the casualties.
The offensive has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population, often multiple times, leaving much of the territory uninhabitable. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have sought to end the fighting and secure the return of hostages while providing extensive military and diplomatic support to Israel.
