Trump Netanayahu Plan Awaits Hamas Response to End Gaza War

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jointly announced a peace initiative designed to end the ongoing war in Gaza, which calls for Hamas to relinquish power, disarm, and release hostages in exchange for Israel ceasing hostilities, freeing prisoners, and granting amnesty to former Hamas members. Netanyahu has accepted the plan, which aligns with Israel’s war aims, including the demilitarization of Hamas and a technocratic government for Gaza, but emphasized that the details, such as the sequence of hostages' release and concessions, remain complex. Hamas has yet to respond, with senior figures indicating likely rejection as the plan is seen as favoring Israel and ignoring Palestinian interests, while Qatar, a key patron, is under pressure to persuade Hamas to accept. Analysts note that Hamas’s strategic objective is not ceasefire but political destabilization of Israel, making it uncertain whether military pressure will compel compliance. The plan has garnered broad international support and reignited hopes for peace in the Middle East, reminiscent of past attempts like the Oslo Accords, with Trump credited for reviving the peace process. Meanwhile, Hamas’s representative in Tehran questions whether genuine Palestinian freedom and democracy would result, underscoring ongoing skepticism about the plan’s potential success.