Many, including Israel, were caught off guard by Hamas’s reaction to US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for peace in Gaza. The Palestinian faction has made a calculated decision by agreeing to a number of the plan’s main components, such as an immediate ceasefire and the swap of Israeli detainees for Palestinian ones. However, it has also set forth unambiguous red lines: Hamas has refused to disarm or consent to the actual recolonization of Gaza under the pretense of a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and former British PM Tony Blair according to details.
To put it briefly, Hamas has accepted peace but refused to give up. This is a surprise for Israel, which has long justified its unrelenting attack on Gaza by pointing to Hamas’s intransigence. Hamas makes a calm, realistic message that is based on the larger Palestinian national cause. Israel will now need to reconsider its policy if it believed it could reject the deal and blame Hamas. Israel is firmly in control of the situation. And while the world looks on, Israel is bombing Gaza in defiance of Trump’s demand that the attack “immediately stop.” One such drone strike killed two toddlers in al-Mawasi shortly after Hamas made its announcement. If the bombardment goes on, Israel will have to respond to the question of what it is currently fighting for and who it is blaming. The fact that Hamas’s statement largely echoes the stances of Arab and Muslim nations, such as Pakistan, who had previously backed Trump’s proposal makes it noteworthy as well.
Certain aspects of the plan that these states had approved have essentially been adopted by Hamas. Muslim nations like Pakistan, which has referred to the declaration as “a window for a ceasefire” that must not be allowed to close, and mediators like Qatar and Egypt have praised this. The way ahead is now obvious. First and foremost, the genocide in Gaza needs to stop right away and without conditions. Second, Trump’s plan calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the exchange formula. Third, Trump, Blair, or any other external force cannot decide Gaza’s future as though it were a colony from the 19th century that needed to be governed by imperial overseers. In its statement, Hamas reiterates its support for peace and opposes the elimination of Palestinian autonomy. This should be acknowledged by the international community, especially by those who have backed the Trump plan, as a sensible, calculated reaction that paves the way for meaningful talks.
This is a pivotal time for Trump. According to Israeli media, his demand that Israel stop bombing was greeted with “shock” in Netanyahu’s administration. However, words won’t be enough. Trump must now do what few US presidents have dared to do: tell Israel that enough is enough if he genuinely wants to be the dealmaker he says he is. This entails tying US military and political backing to Israel’s adherence to the truce and talks. Since the US has rarely applied significant pressure on Israel, history indicates that this may be extremely unlikely, but if Trump wants his peace plan to be successful, this is the test. Hamas has taken action. The Muslim and Arab worlds have embraced it. The mediators are prepared. The world is keeping a careful eye on things. Now, the question is whether US-backed Israel will take advantage of this chance for peace or waste it pursuing a colonial dream that has already claimed the lives of almost 66,000 Palestinians.
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