Hamas Faces Pressure to Accept Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Hamas is under intense pressure to accept a U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire plan proposed by Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The 20-point plan favors Israeli interests and demands Hamas disarm and relinquish power. Regional isolation and internal weakness may leave Hamas with little choice but to comply.
Trump Gaza Plan Quick Looks
- Trump, Netanyahu unveiled a 20-point ceasefire deal
- Hamas must release all hostages and disarm
- Proposal installs international peacekeepers inside Gaza
- Gaza’s reconstruction would be U.S.-led, with Arab support
- Israel keeps a military presence along Gaza’s border
- Plan includes vague pathway to Palestinian statehood
- Netanyahu insists he did not agree to statehood
- Hamas allies like Iran and Hezbollah are weakened
- Arab states, including Qatar and Turkey, back the deal
- Trump gave Hamas 3–4 days to respond
Deep Look: Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan Leaves Weakened Hamas with Few Options
After nearly two years of devastating conflict, Hamas is facing its most challenging moment yet — politically isolated, militarily diminished, and now pressured to accept a peace plan drafted by former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Unveiled at the White House, the Trump-Netanyahu plan outlines a comprehensive 20-point ceasefire framework aimed at ending the war in Gaza. While the proposal offers some face-saving gains for Hamas, it heavily favors Israeli interests and imposes strict conditions on the Palestinian militant group — including full disarmament and surrender of governance in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s Shift: From Total War to Strategic Diplomacy
Since Hamas launched its October 2023 offensive, Netanyahu has vowed “total victory,” repeatedly pledging to crush Hamas militarily and remove it from power. While many critics deemed this goal unrealistic given Hamas’s deep roots in Palestinian society, the Trump proposal appears to legitimize that ambition.
The plan mandates that Hamas release all hostages — both living and deceased — within days of implementation. It also requires Hamas to hand over administrative control of Gaza to a group of unaffiliated technocrats, supervised by an international authority co-led by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Israel, meanwhile, would retain military control along Gaza’s perimeter, while internal security duties would shift to an international force, primarily composed of Arab and Muslim troops. The U.S. would lead a multibillion-dollar international reconstruction effort to rebuild Gaza’s shattered infrastructure.
Crucially, the deal is ambiguous on one of the most contentious issues: Palestinian statehood. The language suggests a possible “credible pathway” to a two-state solution, but without timelines or enforcement mechanisms, leaving plenty of space for Netanyahu — who has publicly rejected Palestinian statehood — to stall indefinitely.
Hamas Gains Some, But Loses More
While the plan requires major concessions from Hamas, it does offer limited political wins that the group could tout domestically.
The most symbolic of these is the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails — including about 250 serving life sentences for fatal attacks on Israelis. Though such a move is deeply unpopular in Israel, it is widely celebrated among Palestinians, who view the detainees as heroes of resistance.
Hamas could also claim that it compelled Israel and the U.S. to recognize, albeit vaguely, Palestinian statehood ambitions. Furthermore, the plan commits to keeping Gaza’s population in place — discarding earlier floated ideas of permanent displacement — and promises no Israeli annexation or settlement activity within Gaza.
Still, these gains pale in comparison to what Hamas is being forced to surrender: its weapons, power, and influence over Gaza.
Trump’s Ultimatum and Regional Pressure
Trump, speaking at the White House on Tuesday, gave Hamas “three or four days” to accept the terms. That short window underscores the urgency and strategic pressure being applied not just by Israel and the U.S., but also by key regional players.
Arab nations including Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia — all with varying degrees of influence over Hamas — have issued a joint statement supporting the deal and pledging assistance in its implementation. Many of these countries maintain longstanding ties with the militant group, particularly Qatar and Turkey, and their alignment with the proposal could leave Hamas cornered.
Hamas’s traditional backers — Iran and Hezbollah — are also facing mounting setbacks. Both have suffered significant blows from U.S. and Israeli strikes, reducing their regional clout and limiting their ability to provide Hamas with substantial support.
Internally, Hamas’s grip on Gaza has also been severely weakened. After nearly two years of siege, destruction, and humanitarian catastrophe, many Gazans are reportedly desperate for the war to end — even if it means Hamas relinquishing control.
Arab Concerns Linger Behind the Scenes
Despite broad public support, several Arab governments have privately expressed concern over elements of the final plan released by the White House. According to anonymous officials involved in negotiations, the final draft appears to have been edited to be more favorable to Israel compared to what was previously discussed with Trump.
Key points of contention include the vagueness surrounding Israel’s troop withdrawal, lack of deadlines for allowing the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza, and the undefined path to a Palestinian state.
Officials from Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar are reportedly in contact with the U.S. to clarify or renegotiate certain terms — potentially offering Hamas room to push for more favorable conditions.
The Bottom Line
The Trump-Netanyahu plan represents a major turning point in the Gaza war. Though Hamas can cite minor wins, the overarching framework effectively dismantles its military and political authority in Gaza.
Weakened militarily, isolated diplomatically, and with public support waning at home, Hamas may have little leverage left. Acceptance of the deal might be the only viable option left — not because it aligns with their goals, but because continued resistance could mean total collapse.
Whether the deal leads to lasting peace or simply a strategic pause remains to be seen. But for now, Hamas stands at a crossroads — and time is running out.
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