Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Cairo is intensifying diplomatic efforts to convince Hamas to accept a new U.S.-backed peace initiative aimed at ending the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty said Thursday. Speaking at the French Institute of International Relations in Paris, Abdel Aaty confirmed that Egypt is working closely with Qatar and Turkey to push for a positive response from the Palestinian militant group.
“We are meeting with them and coordinating with our brothers in Qatar, as well as our colleagues in Turkey, to convince Hamas to respond positively to this plan,” Abdel Aaty stated. He also reiterated Egypt’s firm stance against any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. “Under no circumstances will Egypt allow the displacement of Gaza’s population,” he said.
The foreign minister added that rejection of the plan by Hamas would risk triggering a dangerous escalation in the conflict. “If Hamas refuses Trump’s plan, the situation will become extremely difficult and a new escalation is likely,” he warned.
Hamas Seeks Revisions to Key Terms of U.S. Proposal
While the U.S. plan unveiled earlier this week by former President Donald Trump and swiftly endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been met with guarded optimism in some international circles, Hamas has not yet formally accepted it. A Palestinian official close to the group told Agence France-Presse that Hamas is open to negotiations but is demanding changes to several core elements of the proposal.
According to the source, the group opposes two critical conditions: the disarmament of Hamas and the exile of its fighters from the Gaza Strip. “Hamas is requesting amendments to certain parts of Trump’s plan, particularly clauses calling for disarmament and the removal of its cadres and those of other factions from Gaza,” the official said.
He added that internal consultations within Hamas are ongoing and “intensified around the clock” across both Gaza and its external leadership. On Monday alone, four meetings were reportedly held in Doha involving Qatari and Egyptian mediators and attended by Turkish officials. These meetings reflect the complexity and urgency of the negotiations.
The official also said that Hamas has asked mediators for “firm international guarantees” ensuring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and strict adherence to any agreed ceasefire.
What Does Trump’s Peace Plan Propose?
The peace plan introduced by Donald Trump, his latest foray into Middle East diplomacy was presented as a framework to immediately halt hostilities and set Gaza on a path toward reconstruction and stability. The plan has 20 provisions and is structured around several key elements:
- Immediate ceasefire: Both Hamas and Israel must agree to an immediate end to the conflict.
- Hostage-prisoner exchange: All hostages held in Gaza would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners currently in Israeli jails.
- Gradual Israeli withdrawal: Israeli forces would gradually pull out of Gaza, but Israel would retain a “security buffer zone” along the border.
- Disarmament of Hamas: The plan requires Hamas to fully disarm.
- Exile of fighters: Hamas and other faction fighters would leave Gaza and relocate to third-party countries.
- Post-war governance: A technocratic Palestinian committee, including international experts, would govern Gaza under the oversight of a supervisory council chaired by Trump himself. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is listed as one of the council members.
The U.S. proposal reflects a sweeping vision to restructure not just the immediate ceasefire terms, but the long-term political and security landscape in Gaza. However, critics argue that some of its provisions are unrealistic or even provocative—particularly the demand for disarmament and exile, which strike at the heart of Hamas’s ideological and political identity.
Next Steps: Diplomacy, Pressure, and Uncertainty
Qatar has confirmed that further high-level talks are planned, including a meeting in Doha with officials from Hamas, Egypt, and Turkey to discuss the plan in greater depth. It is expected that these discussions will be crucial in determining whether the proposal can serve as the basis for a negotiated end to the conflict or whether it becomes another failed attempt at Middle East peacemaking.
Analysts warn that while the Trump plan offers a clear pathway to de-escalation, its success depends on broad regional buy-in and significant compromises from all sides. Hamas’s willingness to even partially accept the terms will likely be shaped by internal political dynamics, pressure from regional allies, and guarantees about Gaza’s future governance and security.
For Egypt, the stakes are particularly high. Cairo has consistently positioned itself as a key mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is deeply concerned about any scenario that might trigger mass displacement toward its borders.
“The region stands at a crossroads,” said one diplomat familiar with the negotiations. “Either this becomes the beginning of the end of the Gaza war or we enter a new and more dangerous chapter.”
As of now, all eyes remain on Hamas’s leadership, which holds the key to determining whether Trump’s plan becomes a turning point, or yet another missed opportunity in the troubled history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
