Is This a 'NO'?
The Three Conditions in Trump's Plan Hamas Says Will Never Happen
Senior Hamas official signals rejection of Trump's peace plan, citing refusal to disarm and deploy international forces. Regional mediators urge acceptance as Netanyahu backs proposal.
A senior official from the Hamas terror organization indicated the group is “likely to reject” a 20-point peace proposal put forth by US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of the 48 remaining hostages, according to a report from the BBC on Wednesday.
The official dismissed the plan, telling the British public-service broadcaster that it "serves Israel's interests" and "ignores those of the Palestinian people."
Key Conditions Refused
The official specified several non-negotiable points that are central to the Hamas rejection, all of which are conditions stipulated in the Trump proposal:
Conflicting Reports and Diplomatic Pressure
The BBC report appears to contradict a separate Tuesday report from CBS, which, citing an informed source, had suggested that Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups were "leaning toward" accepting the proposal and were reviewing it "responsibly."
Despite the conflicting signals, the proposal is now at the center of a major diplomatic push. Axios reported Wednesday that three major regional mediators, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, have urged Hamas to accept the peace plan. The Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, reportedly told Hamas leaders that "this was the best deal he was able to get for them and it won't get much better."
Netanyahu Agreement and US Backing
The news of the likely rejection comes just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the plan on Monday following a meeting with President Trump at the White House.
Speaking after that meeting, President Trump gave an ultimatum to Hamas, pledging full support to Israel should the terror group refuse the deal.
"Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas," Trump said. He added, "If Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible... you’d have our full backing to do what you would have to do."
Hamas's official response is expected following consultations with other Palestinian factions. Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesman Mohammed al-Haj Musa told Ultra Palestine that the plan “does not pertain to Hamas alone, but rather to the entire Palestinian people,” emphasizing the need for a unified national response.