Hamas to Seek Changes to Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Plan
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Hamas is expected to use Donald Trump’s 20-point proposal as a negotiating base, but will demand key revisions before giving its official approval. The US President has given the group a strict deadline of “three or four days” to respond, warning they will “pay in hell” if they refuse.
Key Demands and Sticking Points
The core issue for Hamas is the plan’s requirement for the group to effectively surrender, while a political path for Palestinians remains unclear:
- Disarmament is a “Red Line”: The plan’s demand for full disarmament is the biggest obstacle, which The Guardian reported is “almost impossible” for Hamas to accept, especially without real progress toward a Palestinian state.
- Vague Withdrawal: Hamas also has concerns about the “vague wording” regarding Israel’s troop withdrawals.
- No Broader Peace: The plan lacks a broader peace plan for the region, which makes ceding military power untenable for Hamas.
What the Trump Plan Requires
The US-brokered plan, which has already been accepted by Israel, includes a number of demands for both sides:
- Hostage Exchange: Hamas must release all remaining Israeli hostages within 72 hours of a ceasefire.
- Prisoner Release: Israel must free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many serving life sentences—a point Hamas can use as a significant political gain.
- Israeli Withdrawal: Israeli forces are to gradually pull back to a buffer zone along Gaza’s perimeter.
- Post-War Governance: The plan calls for an indefinite international administration to govern Gaza.
Pressures on Hamas
Hamas’s leadership—spread across Doha, Istanbul, and Gaza—faces pressure from key supporters Turkey and Qatar to compromise. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has threatened that Israel will “finish the job” if Hamas rejects the deal.
The conflict, triggered by the October 7 raid that killed 1,200 people, has resulted in the deaths of more than 66,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians. Despite heavy losses to its command structure and rockets, reports indicate that only 40 percent of its tunnel network has been destroyed, and the group continues to mount guerrilla attacks.
