 "Is Hamas all set to say 'yes, but...' to Trump’s Gaza peace plan?")
Hamas is likely to respond “positively” to US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan proposal, but can suggest a few amendments to its terms, according to a report by Times of Israel.
Sources told the news outlet that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey are engaged in productive talks with Hamas, which has not formally accepted Trump’s 20-point peace plan. It is worth noting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the president’s proposal.
Earlier this week, Trump gave Hamas an ultimatum of three to four days to respond to the plan. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said all other parties had agreed to the plan and only Hamas remained. “All of the Arab countries are signed up. The Muslim countries are all signed up. Israel is all signed up. We’re just waiting for Hamas, and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not — and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end,” he warned.
What’s the peace plan?
The plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.
Many elements of the 20 points have been included in numerous ceasefire deals proposed over the last two years, including those accepted and then subsequently rejected at various stages by both Israel and Hamas.
Under the fresh plan, once all hostages are freed, Israel will release 250 prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, including all women and children held during that period. Additionally, for each Israeli hostage whose remains are returned, Israel will hand over the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
What amendments are Hamas likely to suggest?
According to the source, Hamas’s proposed amendments will seek to ease certain terms that Prime Minister Netanyahu introduced at the last minute, particularly those concerning the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas’s disarmament.
One major point of contention is the plan’s demand for Hamas to disarm. The group is unlikely to accept a full surrender of its weapons, especially in the absence of a political process or meaningful steps toward a two-state solution.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, it is not yet clear whether the US will accept Hamas’s amended terms, as the group was unable to convince special envoy Steve Witkoff the last time they responded to a peace proposal with “Yes, but…”
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