The Palestinian group Hamas (recognised as a terrorist group in the EU and the US) said on 3 October that it agrees with some aspects of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, in particular the release of hostages and the transfer of power in the enclave to an independent administration as part of a peaceful settlement in the region.
Hamas issued its response to the US president’s proposals, quoted by Reuters and Al Jazeera, after Trump earlier today gave the group until Sunday to accept the entire plan.
As for other terms of Trump’s peace plan, Hamas said it would seek further negotiations.
The statement said Trump’s proposals for the future of the Gaza Strip and the rights of the Palestinian people are linked to “a unified national position” and “international laws and resolutions”. The group, which is recognised as a terrorist group in several countries around the world, says these issues should be addressed “within a comprehensive Palestinian national structure” in which Hamas “will participate and to which it will contribute responsibly”.
The latter statement directly contradicts the US president’s plan to require Hamas to leave the Gaza Strip entirely.
The White House has not yet commented on Hamas’ response.
Earlier, Israel, as well as Arab and European states, announced their support for Trump’s plan.
Trump, announcing a deadline for Hamas on 3 October, said that if the group does not agree to the deal he is proposing, “real hell” awaits it.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said Israel and other countries were “very close” to reaching an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip.
The White House released proposals for his 20-point peace plan, which includes a ceasefire, an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the disarmament of Hamas and the creation of a transitional technocratic cabinet with Palestinians and international experts as members. The plan stipulates that Hamas would be excluded from the political process. Hamas members who wish to leave Gaza would be allowed to do so. There will be no resettlement of Gazans under the agreement.
The plan also calls for the creation of an international transitional body, a “Peace Council,” headed by Donald Trump, whose members are also to include other senior officials, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The body is to be responsible for the development and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The territory itself, the plan says, should become a “deradicalised terror-free zone” and order there should be maintained by an international stabilisation force. If Gaza reconstruction and reforms in the Palestinian Authority are successful, the document said, the path to Palestinian statehood could be opened. The U.S. would facilitate Palestinian dialogue with Israel, the plan said.