Hamas has expressed willingness to release hostages according to the plan’s “formula,” likely referring to the release of Palestinian prisoners. The group also reiterated its longstanding openness to handing power over to a politically independent Palestinian body. However, Hamas emphasized that aspects of the proposal concerning the future of the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rights should be decided based on a “unanimous Palestinian stance” reached with other factions and grounded in international law. Notably, the statement made no mention of Hamas disarming, a key Israeli demand included in former President Donald Trump’s proposal.

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### Trump’s Plan Aims to End Fighting and Secure Hostages’ Release

Donald Trump appears keen to fulfill pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack, which is approaching this Tuesday. His peace plan has been accepted by Israel and welcomed internationally. However, key mediators such as Egypt and Qatar have indicated that some elements require further negotiation, without providing specific details.

“An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time,” Trump wrote on social media last Friday. “Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.”

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### Key Points of Trump’s Proposal

Unveiled earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump’s plan includes the following:

– Hamas would immediately release the remaining 48 hostages, approximately 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
– Hamas would surrender power and disarm.
– Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from much of Gaza territory.
– Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
– An influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction efforts would be allowed.
– Plans to relocate much of Gaza’s population to other countries would be shelved.
– The territory, home to around 2 million Palestinians, would be placed under international governance, overseen by Trump himself and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

However, the plan does **not** provide a path for eventual reunification of Gaza with the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a key issue for a future Palestinian state.

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### Hamas’ Response and Palestinian Views

A Hamas official told The Associated Press that some elements of the plan are unacceptable and require amendment, without further elaboration.

While many Palestinians long for an end to the conflict, there is widespread skepticism toward this and previous U.S. proposals, which many view as strongly favoring Israel.

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### Israel and U.S. Pressure on Hamas

Since ending a ceasefire in March, Israel has intensified pressure on Hamas by sealing the Gaza Strip off from food, medicine, and other essentials for two and a half months. It has also flattened large areas and displaced much of the population.

Before launching a major offensive aimed at occupying Gaza City, experts confirmed the city had slid into famine. An estimated 400,000 people have fled the city in recent weeks, yet hundreds of thousands remain.

Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, described displaced families sheltering in the parking lot of Shifa Hospital during a recent visit. “They are not able to move south because they just cannot afford it,” she said. “One family had three children, and the woman was pregnant with her fourth. There were many other vulnerable cases there, including elderly people and people with disabilities.”

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### Military Status and Hostage Negotiations

Trump claimed on social media that most of Hamas’ fighters are “surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED,” waiting for his command to be eliminated. “As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed,” he wrote.

While most of Hamas’ top leaders and thousands of fighters have been killed, the group still controls areas outside Israeli military control and continues to launch sporadic attacks against Israeli soldiers.

Hamas maintains it will only release the remaining hostages — its “sole bargaining chip and potential human shields” — in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has categorically rejected those terms, insisting Hamas must surrender and disarm.

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### Approaching the Second Anniversary of the October 7 Attack

On October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, attacking army bases, farming communities, and an outdoor music festival, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They abducted 251 individuals, most of whom have since been released in ceasefires or other deals.

Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, run by the Hamas government, does not specify how many were civilians or combatants but states that women and children account for around half of the fatalities. The UN and many independent experts consider its casualty figures among the most reliable.

The ongoing offensive has displaced roughly 90 percent of Gaza’s population, often displacing people multiple times and rendering much of the territory uninhabitable.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations have attempted to end the fighting and facilitate the hostages’ return while providing extensive military and diplomatic support to Israel.

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