US President Donald Trump says Hamas has three or four days to respond to peace plan

A senior Hamas official has told the BBC that the group is expected to reject Donald Trump’s recently unveiled peace plan for Gaza, arguing it primarily “serves Israel’s interests” while disregarding the needs of the Palestinian people.

The official highlighted Hamas’s reluctance to disarm and surrender weapons, a key condition of Mr Trump’s proposal.

Hamas also opposes the introduction of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, viewing it as a new form of occupation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted the plan during recent White House talks, but Hamas has yet to provide an official response.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said Hamas is carefully reviewing the White House proposal. Discussions reportedly involve Hamas leadership both within Gaza and abroad, with the group’s military commander in Gaza determined to continue fighting rather than accept the plan.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who took part in the October 7 attack has already rejected the deal.

A major sticking point for Hamas is the plan’s demand that all hostages held by the group be released simultaneously, which removes their main bargaining leverage.

Despite Mr Trump’s backing, there is deep scepticism about Israel’s commitment to halt military operations after receiving hostages, especially following Israel’s recent attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders in Doha.

It comes as US President Donald Trump says Hamas militants have about three or four days to respond to his Gaza Strip peace plan proposal or face the consequences.

Mr Trump told reporters as he departed the White House that Israeli and Arab leaders had accepted the plan and “we’re just waiting for Hamas”.

He said Hamas has about “three or four days” to respond.

“Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end,” he said.

Asked if there was room for negotiations on the peace plan, Mr Trump said: “Not much.”

Qatari and Egyptian officials have presented the 20-point proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are reviewing it.

At least 27 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, local hospitals said.

In Netzarim, the Israeli-controlled corridor that bisects the north and south of the enclave, 17 Palestinians were killed and 33 wounded while attempting to access humanitarian aid, al-Awda hospital said.

Separately, at least two Israeli strikes on tents in the region of Muwasi, previously deemed a safe zone by the Israeli military, killed 10 people, two hospitals reported.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the shooting or strikes, saying its troops had killed several armed militants and struck more than 160 targets of Hamas infrastructure in the past 24 hours.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that his country has accepted Trump’s “plan for ending the war in Gaza and for a better future” and that it was now up to Hamas to announce its position.

“We will now see if Hamas accepts the president’s plan,” Saar said during a visit to Serbia.

He accused Hamas of trying in the past to change the terms or avoid implementing any past agreements.

“We will see,” he said.

Within Gaza, many Palestinians support the plan simply because it promises an end to the war. One resident told the BBC that even a “devil’s plan” would be welcome if it stopped the conflict and removed Hamas.

A Palestinian journalist warned that if Hamas rejects the plan, it would give Netanyahu the green light to continue devastating Gaza, which is already overwhelmed with suffering and desperation.

The conflict started after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, causing over 1,200 deaths and multiple hostage-taking. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed over 66,000 in Gaza, with widespread famine and allegations of genocide by a UN inquiry — claims strongly denied by Israel.

The new plan aims to end this brutal conflict but faces strong opposition and many challenges from all sides.

with AP