Background on Key Figures and Context
On Wednesday, Israel intensified its bombing of Gaza City while the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, continued to analyze Donald Trump’s peace plan aimed at ending nearly two years of conflict.
Trump set a “three or four-day ultimatum” for Hamas to accept his peace plan, which received approval from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The plan has been praised by several countries and includes a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages within 72 hours, the disarmament of Hamas, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
The plan also envisions a transitional authority led by Trump, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair among its advisors.
A Palestinian source close to Hamas stated on Wednesday that no “final decision” had been made yet and that Hamas would need “two or three days” to respond. The group, which has governed Gaza since 2007, wants to modify certain clauses such as disarmament and the expulsion of high-ranking Hamas officials.
Hamas also seeks “international guarantees” that Israel will fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip and cease all killings “inside or outside the territory.”
Trump’s Proposal Demands Hamas’ Complete Disarmament
Trump’s proposal requires Hamas’ complete disarmament and exclusion from any future government, but it offers amnesty to combatants who accept peaceful coexistence with Israel.
Ongoing Conflict and Bombing in Gaza
Meanwhile, the bombings in Gaza City continued without pause. The Israeli military launched a significant offensive on September 16th. Rabah al Halabi, a 60-year-old Palestinian, reported via phone that “the explosions don’t stop.”
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’s bloody attack in southern Israel.
“We Expect Death”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) suspended operations in Gaza City on Wednesday and relocated staff to southern Gaza. The ICRC warned that civilians in Gaza City are being killed, forcibly displaced, and subjected to terrible conditions.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, issued a final warning to Gaza residents to leave immediately.
“Those who remain will be considered terrorists and collaborators with terrorism,” Katz stated in a press release.
Al Halabi, who refuses to leave due to the dangerous conditions across Gaza, stated, “We expect death or perhaps divine help and a truce.”
Divergent Opinions Within Hamas Regarding the Plan
A source close to negotiations in Doha, Qatar, told AFP that there are “two opinions” within Hamas regarding Trump’s plan for a ceasefire.
“The first supports unconditional approval, prioritizing a ceasefire within the guarantees provided by Trump and mediated by intermediaries ensuring Israel’s compliance with the plan,” the source explained.
“The second has serious reservations about key clauses, rejects disarmament and expulsions, and prefers conditional approval accompanied by clarifications reflecting Hamas’ demands and those of resistance movements,” the source added.
Attack and Response
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack killed 1,219 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. The Islamist commandos also captured 251 people that day, with 47 still held captive in Gaza, including 25 reported dead by the Israeli military.
In response, Israel launched a relentless offensive in Gaza, resulting in 66,097 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, deemed reliable by the UN.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Donald Trump? Donald Trump is the former President of the United States who proposed a peace plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Who is Benjamin Netanyahu? Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel who approved Trump’s peace plan.
- Who is Tony Blair? Tony Blair is the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who is part of the advisory team for Trump’s peace plan transitional authority.
- What is Hamas? Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist movement that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
- What is the current conflict about? The ongoing conflict stems from Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in numerous casualties and captives on both sides.
