Hamas ponders Trump-mediated ceasefire negotiated with Israel

Hamas says it’s considering a 60-day ceasefire proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of an effort to secure peace in the Middle East.

Trump has warned the Arab intifada faction the current proposal is final.

“The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal,” said Trump via Truth Social. “I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

CBS News, however, has reported Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn’t yet agreed to the ceasefire terms, although his cabinet has expressed strong support for the deal.

In his first public remarks since Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire proposal, the Israeli Prime Minister was pessimistic, arguing for the group’s total elimination, Reuters reported.

“There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a Hamastan. We’re not going back to that. It’s over,” Netanyahu told a meeting via telephone, according to Reuters.

Since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israeli civilians, Israel has been singularly focused on destroying Hamas as a military unit.

Israel now occupies 80% of the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters. Gaza is the part of the Palestinian territories controlled by Hamas, which operates against Israel with strong support from Iran and Qatar.  

Since Trump was inaugurated, Qatar has regularly sided with the Trump administration, looking to secure stability for the region as a part of its economic expansion plan that continues to modernize the country. 

Meanwhile, Iran has been pulverized militarily by Israel and the U.S., weakening the Islamic state’s influence in the region. 

Peace for Israel will be the topic of a conference between Trump and Netanyahu next week.  

“He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said about Netanyahu’s desire to stop the fighting. 

One of the major sticking points in previous proposals for ceasefires has involved Hamas’s unwillingness to release all the hostages taken during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.  

“Hamas still holds 50 hostages. The war could end tomorrow if they disarm and release them,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar about Hamas and the current Trump proposal. “We accepted the U.S. proposal, but Hamas refused. They are to blame for the war’s start, its continuation, and the suffering on both sides. The world must back the U.S. plan and end Hamas’s delusions.” 

Hamas has expressed public appreciation for the efforts of Qataris and Egyptians to act as mediators. 

“We are approaching this with a high sense of responsibility and are conducting national consultations to discuss the proposals presented by the mediators,” the terrorist group said about the Trump proposal, according to CBS News.