A senior Hamas official has told the BBC that the group is unlikely to accept United States President Donald Trump’s new Gaza peace plan, saying it “serves Israel’s interests” and fails to address the needs of the Palestinian people.
The plan, built around a 20-point framework, calls on Hamas to disarm and surrender its weapons—something the group has firmly rejected. Hamas leaders also oppose the proposed deployment of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, describing it as “a new form of occupation.”
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the proposal during talks in Washington, Hamas has not issued a formal response. Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that Hamas is still reviewing the plan “responsibly.” However, sources say internal divisions are shaping the debate. Military commander Ez al-Din al-Haddad is pushing to continue armed resistance, while leaders outside Gaza, who have little influence over hostages and ground realities, are losing influence in the decision-making process.
Other Palestinian groups are also weighing in. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which joined the October 7 attack on Israel, rejected the plan on Tuesday, dismissing it as biased.
A map released by the Trump administration has sparked further concerns, as it shows a possible buffer zone along the border with Egypt. Hamas fears that if such a zone is administered with Israeli involvement, it could amount to an extension of the occupation.
Meanwhile, President Trump has given Hamas “three or four days” to respond to the ceasefire proposal. Speaking at the White House, he warned that rejecting the plan could have serious consequences.
“Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end,” Trump said. When asked if there was room for negotiation, he replied: “Not much.”
The peace plan has already received support from Israel and some Arab states, with Washington presenting it as a possible framework to end the two-year war in Gaza. Hamas, however, remains deeply skeptical, raising doubts about whether a breakthrough is possible in the coming days.
