Former President Donald Trump has introduced a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza, garnering mixed reactions from local and international stakeholders. The Kremlin has been aggressively supportive of Trump’s effort. On the other hand, Hamas has so far rejected the proposal, saying it is “totally biased to Israel.” The plan’s reception foreshadows the complexities of the situation, as multiple groups emerged to praise or criticize the proposal based on its implications for transit.
Trump’s plan is being released at a moment that violence in Gaza has increased tremendously, creating an extreme humanitarian crisis. According to reports from the Gaza health ministry, since the escalation of hostilities on October 7, 2023, famine and malnutrition have caused the loss of 453 lives. One hundred fifty of those victims are innocent children. At the time, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touted their proposal as a historic breakthrough. They claimed that it provides a new hope for the Middle East against the backdrop of this humanitarian abyss.
The response from Hamas has been to denounce it in pretty stark, negative terms. A senior Hamas official criticized Trump’s proposal, stating, “What Trump has proposed is the full adoption of all Israeli conditions, which do not grant the Palestinian people or the residents of the Gaza Strip any legitimate rights.” The most telling admission came from Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas official. He added that the group hadn’t been given the plan on which it was announced.
In sharp relief to the opposition from Hamas, other leaders have praised Trump’s plan of action. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was quick to welcome the peace plan. He called for a “ceasefire now,” an immediate end to the violence in Gaza. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered a powerful State of the Union address. She announced that the European Union stands prepared to deliver resources to help implement Trump’s proposal.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would maintain a military presence in most of Gaza territory, stating, “We are firmly opposed to a Palestinian state.” He went on to say that Israel would act unilaterally. This would be the case if Hamas were to simply reject the plan, or actively seek to undermine its implementation. “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself,” he warned.
Netanyahu made a historic call. In exchange, Israel will free 250 Palestinians who are serving life sentences and 1,700 Palestinians who were arrested since the outbreak of the war. This step is widely viewed as an effort to get ahead of the goodwill bank as relations continue to worsen.
The Palestinian National Initiative has expressed disapproval of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s involvement in the negotiations, with Mustafa Barghouti remarking on Blair’s controversial legacy due to his role in the Iraq War. “He has a negative reputation here. If you mention Tony Blair, the first thing people mention is the Iraq war,” Barghouti stated.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, dismissed the peace plan as a “resounding diplomatic failure,” predicting dire consequences should it fail to achieve lasting peace. “In my estimation, it will end in tears. Our children will be forced to fight in Gaza again,” he lamented.
In spite of these hurdles, Russian officials have sent out some encouraging signals regarding Trump’s initiative. Dmitry Peskov said there was hope for a political resolution through dialogue and cooperation among all parties. “Of course, we want this plan to be implemented and for it to help bring events in the Middle East to a peaceful conclusion,” he stated.