Hamas says it will respond ‘soon’ to Trump’s proposal to end Gaza war
Key Takeaways
- Hamas will announce its decision on President Trump's Gaza ceasefire proposal 'soon' after internal discussions.
- Mediators (Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye) are actively trying to convince Hamas to accept the US-backed peace plan.
- Key sticking points in the proposal include the need for further negotiation on governance and security arrangements.
- Egypt strongly supports the proposal's vision but insists that the forced displacement of Palestinians will not be permitted under any circumstances.
- The proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, prisoner exchange, Israeli withdrawal, and Hamas disarmament.
Hamas has indicated it will soon announce its position on US President Donald Trump’s proposal aimed at ending the nearly two-year war on Gaza, with a political bureau member stating they are discussing the plan to serve Palestinian interests. The White House proposal outlines an immediate ceasefire, prisoner exchange, staged Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government, with Trump giving Hamas a short deadline to agree. Key mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, are intensifying efforts to persuade Hamas to accept the deal, though they note that certain elements, particularly governance and security arrangements, require further discussion. Egypt's Foreign Minister stressed the urgency of acceptance to prevent further civilian killings, which he described as ethnic cleansing, while firmly rejecting any possibility of Palestinian forced displacement. Despite broad support for the vision of ending the war, mediators caution that a refusal by Hamas would likely lead to further escalation.
