Will peace finally reach Gaza? Hamas to review Trump’s plan before response
Gaza: Hamas confirmed on Tuesday that it will study U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza before issuing a response. A senior Hamas official told the Associated Press that the proposal, delivered via mediators Egypt and Qatar, would be discussed internally and with other Palestinian factions. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not specify when Hamas would announce its position.
The peace plan, jointly endorsed by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, demands Hamas disarm and dismantle its military infrastructure in return for an end to hostilities, the release of hostages, and a large-scale reconstruction effort in Gaza. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 66,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing war.
International support has quickly gathered behind Trump’s proposal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed it as a “viable pathway” to lasting peace in West Asia. Australia, Pakistan, Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt also endorsed the initiative. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commended the plan’s emphasis on Palestinian statehood and urged immediate implementation.
The Palestinian Authority issued a statement supporting Trump’s efforts and pledged governance reforms, including democratic elections and an end to controversial militant-linked payments. It described its vision of a “modern, democratic, and nonmilitarised Palestinian state.”
The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire if accepted by both sides, with hostages released within 72 hours. Gaza would be placed under international control, overseen by an international security force and a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Hamas would not have a role in Gaza’s administration. Egyptian-trained Palestinian police would eventually assume local law enforcement duties.
While Israel has already endorsed the plan, uncertainty remains over Hamas’s response. The group’s acceptance or rejection will be pivotal in determining whether the conflict can finally move toward resolution.