Hamas leans toward accepting Trump’s plan to end war in Gaza – Media
Illustrative photo: Hamas militants (Getty Images)
Hamas and other Palestinian groups are leaning toward accepting US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, CBS News reports.
The outlet’s sources said that Hamas and other Palestinian groups will present their response to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Wednesday.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan
The plan Trump presented together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday consists of 20 proposals.
If approved, it envisions a swift ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all remaining hostages and a number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries, and the eventual transfer of control over the territory to a temporary administration of Palestinian technocrats under the leadership of an international Peace Council chaired by Trump.
The plan states that "within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned."
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will also be part of the Peace Council.
According to the plan, Israel will retain security control around Gaza’s perimeter.
Speaking on Monday after his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu noted that Israeli forces would remain "in most of Gaza" at least until all hostages are returned.
Hamas' reaction to Trump’s plan
A diplomatic source familiar with the talks told CBS News that an Egyptian official and the Qatari prime minister provided Hamas representatives with a copy of the proposal.
The Palestinian Authority, which partially governs areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, issued a statement in support of the plan.
In its statement, the PA emphasized the "the importance of the partnership with the United States in achieving peace in the region" and reaffirmed its commitment to certain reforms, including "holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections within one year after the end of the war."
"We have affirmed that we desire a modern, democratic, non-militarized Palestinian state that is committed to pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power," the statement said.
The US recently prepared a new peace plan aimed at ending Israel’s war with Hamas militants.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about the chances of success for Washington’s peace plan to end the war in Gaza.
