Growing International Pressure
Hamas now faces mounting pressure as key regional powers weigh in. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Egypt have all voiced support for the initiative. Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that Turkey’s head of intelligence would also join mediators in Doha to discuss the proposal, marking Turkey’s first significant involvement in the peace process over the last two years.
It remained unclear whether Hamas representatives would attend the Doha meeting. The last time the group gathered in Qatar to consider a U.S. peace proposal, Israel launched an unsuccessful missile strike targeting its leaders. On Monday, Netanyahu issued an apology to Qatar for that September 9 attack, according to the White House.
Although Netanyahu initially backed the plan, he later raised concerns over certain aspects, particularly regarding Palestinian statehood—a concept he has repeatedly dismissed. Netanyahu’s position is complicated, as he faces pressure from both a war-weary Israeli public calling for an end to the conflict and far-right coalition members who oppose concessions.
Situation on the Ground in Gaza
In Gaza, reactions to the peace plan were mixed. Some residents expressed hope that the agreement could end the ongoing devastation, while others doubted it would address the deeper issues. Salah Abu Amr, a 60-year-old father of six from Gaza City, said, “We want the war to end, but we want the occupation army that killed tens of thousands of us to get out and leave us alone.” He added, “We hope the plan will end the war, but we are not sure it will, neither Trump nor Netanyahu can be trusted.”
The conflict began after Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which left about 1,200 dead and 251 people taken hostage. Since then, Gaza health authorities report that more than 66,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive. On Tuesday, Israeli forces advanced further into Gaza City, reaching its center, which Netanyahu described as Hamas’s final stronghold.
Israeli aircraft dropped new leaflets over Gaza City instructing residents to leave for the south immediately. The leaflets warned in bold red text, “The battle against Hamas is decisive and will not end until it is defeated.”
Conclusion
Trump’s ultimatum places Hamas under significant international and regional pressure as the group decides whether to accept the peace proposal. While the plan offers the possibility of ending years of bloodshed, deep mistrust, political divisions, and conflicting demands continue to cast doubt over whether the deal can bring lasting stability to Gaza.
