Hamas is said to be expounding the Trump proposed plan to end the war in Gaza with suggestions for revisions of some terms in the deal, which has already been approved by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as it aligns with Israel’s principal demands and was framed without consulting Hamas, and the group is likely to accept the terms with revisions under pressure from Qatar, Turkey and other negotiators.
The plan, unveiled by Trump as a 20-point framework, sets out a ceasefire intended to bring the two-year conflict to a close while establishing an indefinite international administration in Gaza, and it comes with an ultimatum for Hamas to respond within a matter of days or face the threat of harsher military retaliation from Israel.
Analysts suggest that Hamas now faces a choice between unfavourable options, as rejecting the proposal could open the way for Israel to escalate operations further, while acceptance with reservations risks being portrayed as weakness.
The proposal includes provisions for the release of Israeli hostages within 72 hours of the ceasefire taking effect, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops to buffer zones along the perimeter of Gaza, a surge in humanitarian assistance, and the release of more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners, many serving life sentences, which Hamas could present as a tangible political gain, according to The Guardian.
However, the plan also demands the disarmament of Hamas, which remains a central sticking point, since the group’s leadership and fighters view armed struggle as intrinsic to its identity and as leverage in negotiations.
Hamas leadership, divided between Istanbul, Doha and Gaza, is engaged in difficult deliberations over the proposal, as Doha-based leaders are said to be more pragmatic than the military command entrenched in Gaza, which insists on retaining weapons.
Yet, both factions are reported to share resistance to disarmament, as it would remove their only significant means of pressure in the absence of a political process or progress towards a two-state solution. Turkey and Qatar, which have acted as key intermediaries, are pushing Hamas towards concessions, mindful that continued conflict has brought devastating consequences for Gaza’s population.
Netanyahu has welcomed Trump’s framework, since it incorporates Israel’s main demands and offers guarantees of no annexation or direct occupation of Gaza, while warning that a rejection or stalling by Hamas would result in renewed large-scale operations to “finish the job.”
Israel had previously broken a two-month ceasefire in March by refusing to move into a second phase that could have consolidated peace, and has continued to pursue its campaign, which has caused unprecedented devastation.
Although Hamas has suffered the loss of thousands of fighters and almost all senior military leaders, the group has retained a presence in Gaza City and southern camps, recruiting new fighters and maintaining limited guerrilla capabilities despite the destruction of most of its rockets and the deaths of the majority of its commanders.
Reports indicate that about 90% of Hamas commanders and 97% of its rockets have been eliminated, yet only around 40% of its tunnel infrastructure has been destroyed, allowing fighters to continue ambushes and resist Israeli forces.
Some within Hamas favour outright rejection of the Trump plan, particularly younger fighters who argue that Israel is strategically strained by reservist mobilisation, looming elections and mounting international pressure, and therefore believe that prolonging the conflict could force concessions.