Hamas is preparing to deliver a “positive” response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly unveiled peace plan to end the war in Gaza, though it will submit a number of amendments. A source familiar with the talks told The Times of Israel that mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey have been holding “productive” discussions with Hamas leaders in Doha over the proposal.
The plan, announced by Trump on Monday, was quickly accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and welcomed by several Arab states that praised Washington’s efforts.
According to the source, Hamas’s suggested changes will focus on easing tough conditions Netanyahu inserted at the last moment. These include slowing down the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and tightening requirements for Hamas to disarm. Under Trump’s proposal, Hamas would be obligated to release all hostages—alive or dead—within 72 hours, surrender its weapons, and accept no future governing role in Gaza.
International Pressure and Timeframe
The U.S. plan envisions ending the war, gradually replacing Israeli forces in Gaza with an international peacekeeping contingent. But a Hamas official told AFP that the group still needs more time to carefully study the proposal. “Hamas is continuing consultations regarding Trump’s plan and has informed mediators that more time is required,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
President Trump, meanwhile, warned on Tuesday that Hamas had only three or four days to respond and that there was little room for further negotiations. In a previous round of talks, when Hamas responded with a “Yes, but…” U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff refused to discuss any modifications and recalled negotiators from Doha. This time, however, Hamas appears to have backing from both Egypt and Qatar, whose leaders recently signaled that certain elements of the plan must be adjusted.
Despite these dynamics, Egypt and France both called separately on Hamas Thursday to accept the plan, even though it would effectively end the group’s nearly two decades of control over Gaza. Russian President Vladimir Putin also weighed in, describing the proposal as a possible “light at the end of the tunnel.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking to AFP in Saudi Arabia, stressed, “Hamas bears a very heavy responsibility for the catastrophe endured by the Palestinian people. It has lost. It must accept its own surrender.”
