Hamas Poised To Reject Trump Plan To End Gaza War

Latest Developments

Hamas Pours Cold Water on Trump Plan: A senior Hamas figure said on September 30 that the terrorist organization is dissatisfied with the terms laid out by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in its 20-step plan to end the war in Gaza. The official complained that the proposal serves “Israel’s interests” and “ignore[s] those of the Palestinian people,” adding that Hamas is unlikely to agree to disarm, as well as objecting to any “International Stabilization Force” in Gaza, both of which are stipulated by the deal. Meanwhile, Arab mediators stated that Hamas is asking for more time to review the conditions of the proposal, claiming that the clause in the plan mandating the release of all 48 remaining hostages within 72 hours will be difficult to fulfill, as it has lost contact in recent weeks with other Gaza-based terrorist organizations holding the abducted Israelis.
Gaza Residents Urge Hamas To Accept: Palestinians living in Gaza, a territory that has seen nearly two years of fighting since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, atrocities, broadly view Trump’s plan as positive given that it would bring about an end to the war. Gaza resident Khader Abu Kweik told the BBCthat although “the American plan has bad clauses,” he supports it “because it will stop the war and get rid of Hamas.” Meanwhile, another Palestinian journalist said that “a Hamas rejection, God forbid, would mean giving Netanyahu a green light to continue the war with American and Western backing, to destroy what remains of Gaza.” Trump gave the terrorist organization “three to four” days on September 30 to respond to the plan, while Turkish, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators presented the plan to Hamas in Qatar on the same day.
IDF Has Nearly Encircled Gaza City: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on October 1 that the IDF has nearly surrounded Gaza City after seizing the western portion of the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects Gaza between its northern and southern regions. “Anyone leaving [Gaza City] southward will be required to pass through the IDF’s inspection checkpoints,” Katz stated, adding, “those who remain in Gaza will be considered terrorists and terrorist supporters.”

FDD Expert Response

“Even with overwhelming support for the ceasefire plan, Hamas has cast doubt about the offer. This is not out of principle but out of cold political self-interest. True to form, the Islamist group, which glorifies death, is once again indicating that it values power over life, preferring to rule over rubble rather than save its people from a war of its own making.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Though the Trump administration’s 20-step plan includes several terms that Hamas has rejected in past ceasefire negotiations, Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators must make it clear to the terrorist organization that the deal is the best option to end the war and that it even offers amnesty for Hamas leaders abroad. Despite Hamas’s negativity toward the deal until now, the group is significantly more isolated today than even a week ago, facing unprecedented pressure from Arab and Muslim nations around the world as well as Palestinian civilians in Gaza to accept the plan immediately.” — Aaron Goren, Research Analyst and Editor

“President Trump’s peace proposal has garnered support from key players in the Arab and Muslim world, European countries, Australia, and Israel, while Gazans are desperate for the war to end. Yet once again, Hamas is poised to reject the olive branch and continue its terror campaign because its only goal and aspiration is to destroy Israel, no matter the cost to Gaza.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network