A high-stakes countdown has begun in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump presented a 20-point peace plan and gave Hamas just days to respond. The Republican leader has put the Palestinian militant group on notice, warning that failure to accept the terms will result in severe repercussions, backed by Israeli military action.
Trump’s ambitious proposal seeks to fundamentally reshape Gaza’s future. It is built on the condition of Hamas’s complete disarmament and relinquishment of power. This demand for surrender is packaged with significant incentives, including an end to the Israeli military campaign that has devastated the region for over two years.
The plan has garnered remarkable international consensus. According to Trump, Israel, all Arab and Muslim nations, and other world powers like Russia, India, France, and Canada have endorsed the framework. “We’re just waiting for Hamas,” Trump said, positioning the group as the final obstacle to peace in a conflict that he claims to have settled after “3000 years.”
For the people of Gaza, who have suffered immense losses with over 66,000 killed, the plan offers a glimmer of hope. It promises the release of hostages, the freeing of Palestinian detainees, and a massive influx of humanitarian aid to alleviate widespread suffering. The long-term reconstruction of Gaza is also on the table.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the plan, he has publicly rejected the possibility of a future Palestinian state—a point the US proposal leaves open. Hamas is now examining the offer, holding the fate of the region in its hands as the world waits for its crucial decision.
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