Hamas revealed Tuesday it is holding internal discussions examining President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza as it faces international pressure to commit to the peace deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the 20-point plan unveiled Monday, which would bring an end to hostilities between his country and Hamas terrorists who govern Palestinians in Gaza.
READ IN FULL: TRUMP’S 20-POINT PLAN TO END THE WAR IN GAZA
Hamas confirmed Tuesday it had obtained copies of the proposal from two Middle Eastern mediators, Qatar and Egypt, with which Trump has worked to negotiate peace in the region. The terrorist organization is studying the plan and talking with various Palestinian factions before responding to the proposal, according to the Associated Press.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari said during a press conference that Qatar would hold further talks on Tuesday with Hamas negotiators and Turkey to discuss the Gaza plan. The Hamas delegation has committed to studying the proposal “responsibly,” and another meeting, with Turkish participation, is scheduled later in the day, he said.
Despite already airing some criticism of the plan, Hamas is reportedly leaning toward accepting the peace deal and will present the group’s response to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Wednesday, according to CBS News.
Trump’s 20-point plan would see a swift ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all Israeli hostages held by the terrorist group within 72 hours, the release of hundreds of Gazan prisoners held by Israel, the disarmament of Hamas, and the unimpeded delivery of emergency aid. It also contains the building blocks of a postwar development plan, including the creation of a temporary “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump.
It has been backed by Arab nations and factions, such as the Palestinian Authority, Pakistan, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. Leading U.S. allies, such as France, Great Britain, Germany, and India, have also endorsed the proposal. The European Union released statements supporting the plan, saying it is “encouraged by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s positive response” to the U.S. proposal and that “all parties must seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance.”
NETANYAHU EXPRESSED ‘REGRET’ TO QATARI PRIME MINISTER OVER STRIKE
“We want to see our hostages come home after two years … alive and dead,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Tuesday. “We also want to see a different Gaza: deradicalized, demilitarized, and no longer posing a threat to Israel and its citizens.”
As he unveiled the peace proposal at the White House on Monday, Trump called the moment a “historic day for peace.” He warned that if the terrorist organization did not agree to the proposal, Israel would have U.S. backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.”
