Trump 'Threates', Hamas Still Considering Gaza Peace Proposals

JAKARTA - The permanent ceasefire proposal, aka the US-backed peace of Gaza, relies on Hamas' response to the 20-point plan.

US President Donald Trump claims the situation is "very close" to ending the two-year conflict in the enclave.

Qatari and Egypt mediators distributed the document to Hamas on Monday evening after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood beside Trump at the White House and expressed his support for the proposal because according to him the proposal was in accordance with Israel's war goals.

It is unclear what eased Netanyahu's earlier concerns about the elements of the proposal.

Hamas was not involved in the rounds of negotiations ahead of Trump's plan, calling on the Islamist militant group to strip, a demand they had previously rejected.

"Hamas negotiators said they would review it in good faith and provide a response," an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Tuesday, September 30.

Trump warned Hamas, if he refuses what he has offered, Israel will receive full US support for taking any action deemed necessary.

The plan establishes an immediate ceasefire, the exchange of all Hamas detained hostages with Israeli detained Palestinian prisoners, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the denomination of Hamas weapons, and the formation of a transitional government led by international agencies.

Hamas has not officially responded to Trump's proposal on Tuesday, and it is not yet clear what is new to the proposal, in addition to the broad support expressed by Arab and Muslim countries for the initiative.

Many of the elements of the 20 points have been included in various ceasefire deals proposed over the past two years, including those received and later rejected at various stages by Israel and Hamas.

Sources close to Hamas told Reuters the plan was "fully biased against Israel" and imposed "impossible conditions" aimed at eliminating the group.

"What Trump has proposed is the full application of all Israeli requirements, which do not grant any legal rights to the Palestinian people or the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip," the Palestinian official who asked not to be named told Reuters.

It is not yet clear how Hamas will formulate its response, because absolute rejection can make it difficult for a group of Arab and Muslim countries to welcome the plan.

Foreign ministers Qatar, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt issued a joint statement on Monday welcoming Trump's proposal and underlined what they called "a sincere attempt by the president to end the war in Gaza."