As Trump secures Netanyahu’s support to 20-point Gaza plan, all eyes on Hamas’ response

After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday agreed to US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, all eyes are on Hamas’ response to the proposal. Qatar and Egypt have conveyed the proposal to Hamas, and the group is reviewing Trump’s terms.

Under the 20-point plan that seeks an immediate end to the war, Hamas will release all hostages alive or dead; Israel will cease all military activities and withdraw to an agreed upon line; Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and another 1,700 detained after the Hamas-led October 7 attack; and aid supplies will be ramped up. The proposal will need Hamas to disarm and give up Gaza’s governance, which will be taken over by a Trump-headed committee.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Adbulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad have met Hamas negotiators and handed Trump’s proposal, and the group is reviewing it “good faith”, a person familiar with the matter told Associated Press.

However, Hamas has previously dubbed several of the proposal’s terms as non-starters, such as disarming, giving up Gaza’s governance, and settling for anything less than Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza. But Trump appears to be hoping that its battered state would leave Hamas with no option other than to accept the proposal. And the group has been warned it could be the last chance to reach deal.

“If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done,” said Netanyahu.

Trump said that Israel will have his “full backing” to go after Hamas if the group would reject the proposal.

Why Hamas may not immediately say yes to Trump’s proposal

For months, Hamas has said that the war should end first and Israel should withdraw before it fulfils its side of obligations in any deal.

So far, Hamas has rejected any plan in which it has “no governance role, directly, indirectly, or in form” and has dubbed disarmament as a red line. It has also rejected the handover of governance to Palestinian Authority (PA), which it accuses of being in league with Israel, or an international coalition.

Trump’s proposal, however, rests on Hamas’ removal as Gaza’s ruler and the group’s disarmament.

As a concession, Trump’s proposal has assured amnesty and safe passage out to Hamas members “who commit to peaceful coexistence” and give up arms.