Saturday, March 29, 2025
Doha, October 2, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently agreed on a 20-point peace proposal aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. While Israel has endorsed the plan, Hamas has yet to respond and was given 72 hours to deliver its decision.
According to Palestinian sources, Hamas has outright rejected two of Trump’s key conditions and raised demands for international guarantees before moving forward.
An AFP report revealed that Hamas leaders are seeking amendments to Trump’s plan, particularly on the clauses requiring disarmament and the removal of fighters from Gaza. A Palestinian source close to Hamas’ leadership said that negotiators discussed these objections during a meeting in Doha with Turkish, Egyptian, and Qatari officials earlier this week.
Hamas has demanded two critical guarantees in return:
Complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Assurances that Hamas members will not be targeted or assassinated inside or outside Gaza in the future.
The demand for security guarantees stems partly from last month’s Israeli strike in Doha during a ceasefire discussion, which killed six Hamas officials. This incident has heightened Hamas’ mistrust and reinforced its insistence on binding international protections.
Insiders say Hamas is currently split into two camps:
Pro-Agreement Camp – This faction supports Trump’s peace plan without conditions, arguing that it guarantees an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Opposition Camp – This group strongly rejects disarmament and the relocation of any Palestinian fighters from Gaza, viewing the conditions as a threat to their survival and influence.
“Hamas leaders are against disarmament and any forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza,” the source told AFP.
Beyond internal debates, Hamas has been in active contact with regional and Arab partners to gauge support. Diplomats suggest that Hamas may require an additional two to three days beyond the 72-hour deadline to finalize its response to Trump’s plan.
👉 In short: Trump’s Gaza peace initiative has triggered sharp internal divisions within Hamas. While some leaders prioritize an immediate ceasefire, others refuse to compromise on weapons and territory without firm international guarantees.
