Tensions Rise as Hamas Military Leaders Oppose Trump’s Gaza Peace Framework
Hamas military leaders in Gaza have rejected the new US ceasefire plan, raising doubts about the potential for peace in the long-running Gaza conflict. Mediators have reportedly contacted Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza, who expressed firm opposition, believing the plan aims to eliminate Hamas, whether the group agrees or not.
The US proposal, a 20-point framework crafted by President Donald Trump, has already been accepted by Israel. The plan requires Hamas to disarm and relinquish any role in governing Gaza. Some political figures in Hamas’s leadership in Qatar are reportedly open to the framework with adjustments but face limitations, including control over hostages—48 Palestinians are still held by the armed group, and only 20 are believed to be alive.
A major sticking point is the plan’s demand that all hostages be released within 72 hours of a ceasefire. Hamas leaders fear this could compromise their bargaining power, especially given previous attempts by Israel to assassinate Hamas leadership in Doha, which undermined trust in the process.
Further concerns include the deployment of a temporary international stabilization force in Gaza, viewed by some Hamas leaders as a potential new occupation. The US proposal also outlines phased Israeli troop withdrawals, with a security buffer zone along Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt—a point likely to generate further debate.
Even after agreeing to the plan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly pushed back, insisting that Israeli forces would remain in parts of Gaza and would “forcibly resist” a Palestinian state, contradicting US stipulations. The plan envisions a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood, which Hamas has insisted is a precondition for disarmament.
The ongoing Gaza conflict began in October 2023, after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli military campaigns have resulted in over 66,000 deaths in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
The rejection of the US plan signals continued hostilities and underscores the complexity of achieving peace in the Gaza conflict, with deep mistrust and political divisions continuing to stall diplomatic solutions.