Hamas Considers Trump-Netanyahu Gaza Peace Plan as International Support Builds
Hamas Considers Trump-Netanyahu Gaza Peace Plan as International Support Builds
CAIRO (AP) — A comprehensive peace plan for Gaza, brokered by the U.S. and endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now rests on Hamas’s decision, with the militant group weighing a difficult choice: disarm for uncertain gains or face intensified Israeli military action.
The proposal demands Hamas’s effective surrender in exchange for an immediate end to hostilities, substantial humanitarian aid, and a commitment to reconstruct the devastated territory. However, the prospect of Palestinian statehood remains vague, with Gaza and its more than 2 million residents slated for international control under a security force and a ‘Board of Peace’ led by Donald Trump and Tony Blair. Israeli troops would maintain a surrounding presence.
Trump and Netanyahu finalized the agreement following White House talks on Monday. Despite Netanyahu’s strong opposition to any Palestinian Authority involvement in Gaza or a Palestinian state, the plan conditionally outlines the PA’s eventual governance of Gaza, a provision Netanyahu likely views as unlikely to materialize.
The 20-point White House proposal includes an immediate ceasefire, requiring Hamas to release all remaining hostages within 72 hours—estimated at 48, with 20 believed alive. In return, Israel would free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, including all women and children, along with the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each hostage’s body returned.
Troop withdrawal is contingent on Hamas disarming and the deployment of an international security force. Israel would also maintain a ‘security perimeter presence,’ a potentially contentious point for Hamas, which demands a complete Israeli withdrawal before releasing all hostages.
Post-war Gaza would see Hamas’s military infrastructure dismantled, with members pledging peace offered amnesty or safe passage out. The international security force would oversee disarmament and train Palestinian police. Humanitarian aid would be managed by ‘neutral international bodies’ like the U.N. and Red Crescent, ensuring no mass expulsion of Palestinians and an international effort to rebuild the territory.
An interim administration of Palestinian technocrats, overseen by the ‘Board of Peace,’ would manage daily affairs and reconstruction funding. The plan suggests that sufficient PA reforms and Gaza’s redevelopment could eventually pave the way for Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief presented the plan to Hamas negotiators Monday evening, who committed to a good-faith review. Hamas has previously rejected disarmament, asserting its right to resist Israeli occupation. Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, have applauded Trump’s initiative.
Netanyahu, however, faces domestic challenges from ultra-nationalist coalition allies like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has publicly opposed any PA involvement in Gaza or Palestinian statehood, threatening to destabilize the government if such conditions are met. Netanyahu, while acknowledging the PA’s conditional role, expressed skepticism about its ability to reform sufficiently.
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