Hamas Likely to Reject Trump's Gaza Peace Plan, Citing Israeli Interests

A senior Hamas official has indicated that the group is likely to reject President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan for Gaza, asserting that it "serves Israel's interests" and disregards those of the Palestinian people. The official emphasized that Hamas is unlikely to agree to disarmament and the surrender of their weapons, a central condition of Trump's plan. Additionally, Hamas opposes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force in Gaza, viewing it as a new form of occupation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted Trump's plan during White House talks on Monday. However, Hamas has yet to provide an official response. Discussions within Hamas, expected to span several days, also involve other Palestinian factions. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which participated in the October 7 attack and previously held Israeli hostages, rejected the plan on Tuesday.

A significant point of contention for Hamas is the plan's requirement to release all hostages simultaneously, potentially relinquishing their primary bargaining tool. Despite Trump's backing, there is skepticism within Hamas regarding Israel's commitment to cease military operations post-hostage release, especially following an alleged assassination attempt on Hamas leadership in Doha earlier this month.

Furthermore, a map of Gaza shared by the Trump administration suggests a planned buffer zone along Gaza's southern border with Egypt. The administration of this zone remains unclear, but any Israeli involvement is likely to be contentious.

Since agreeing to the plan on Monday evening, Netanyahu has appeared to push back on several of its terms. In a video shared on social media platform X, he insists that the Israeli military would be able to remain in parts of Gaza and that Israel would "forcibly resist" a Palestinian state. This stance contradicts Trump's framework, which stipulates complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and suggests a potential pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood upon the plan's completion.

Within Gaza, Palestinians have expressed broad support for the plan, primarily due to its potential to end the ongoing conflict. Resident Khadar Abu Kweik stated, "The American plan has bad clauses, but I support it because it will stop the war and get rid of Hamas. Even if the devil himself brought a plan to end this hell we are living in, I would support it."

Palestinian journalist Fathi Sabah commented, "A Hamas rejection, god forbid, would mean giving Netanyahu a green light to continue the war with American and Western backing, to destroy what remains of Gaza and the central region. The people of Gaza cannot bear that. They are devastated, exhausted, desperate, and hopeless. They want a ceasefire now, not tomorrow, at any cost, even though they know the plan serves Netanyahu's interests, is full of pitfalls, and does not reflect their aspirations."

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Since then, at least 66,097 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. In August, a UN-backed body confirmed that famine was occurring in Gaza City. Earlier this month, a UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel strongly rejects.