Trump’s Plan for Gaza: Hamas Leader Reveals Timeline for Movement’s Response

As the international community awaits Hamas’s response to the U.S. president’s plan for Gaza, the movement appears to be requesting additional time despite the impending deadline set by Donald Trump.

On Friday, a Hamas official stated that the Palestinian organization “needs some time” to review the U.S. president’s plan, which the Israeli Prime Minister has endorsed.

The official told AFP: “Hamas is still consulting on the Trump plan presented to the movement and has informed the mediators that consultations are ongoing and require additional time.”

Recently, the U.S. president proposed a plan calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza once both parties agree, followed by the release of all hostages held in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

The plan consists of twenty points, including the disarmament of Hamas and the relocation of its fighters to other countries, as well as the administration of Gaza by a Palestinian committee of technocrats and international experts, supervised by a council chaired by Trump himself, which includes former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Trump granted Hamas “three to four days” to accept the plan, which he presents as a means to end the war in the devastated Palestinian territory.

Despite this backing, many observers argue that the plan contains “loopholes,” including allowing Israel to unilaterally determine when a full withdrawal from Gaza would be feasible.

Israel and Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire on January 19, the last day of outgoing President Joe Biden’s term, with support from Trump’s new special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

In March, Israel resumed intensive military operations in Gaza, creating a catastrophic humanitarian situation that prompted the UN to declare famine in parts of the devastated territory.