Senior officials from Hamas are demanding firm guarantees that Israel will end the war on Gaza and completely withdraw from the territory as part of a 20-point plan proposed by United States President Donald Trump. These demands came as the second day of indirect ceasefire negotiations wrapped up in Egypt.
Speaking on the second anniversary of the war’s start, President Trump voiced optimism from the White House, stating there was a “real chance” for a deal following Tuesday’s talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The negotiations are set to continue on Wednesday, with senior Qatari and U.S. officials en route to join the proceedings.
Earlier on Tuesday, a coalition of Palestinian factions, including Hamas, issued a statement emphasizing their “resistance stance by all means.” The factions stressed that “no one has the right to cede the weapons of the Palestinian people,” which appears to be a direct rejection of a crucial element in Trump’s plan calling for the disarmament of the armed group. According to senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum, the group’s negotiators are primarily focused on achieving a ceasefire and the “complete withdrawal of the occupation army” from Gaza. However, Trump’s peace plan remains vague on the timeline for an Israeli troop exit. The staged withdrawal is conditional and would only begin after Hamas releases the 48 Israeli captives it currently holds, 20 of whom are believed to be alive
