Description: Nearing Trump’s deadline, officials close to Hamas’ political leadership have relayed to the mediators Qatar and Egypt that the proposal would need to be amended in order to be accepted. The major sticking points that Hamas found unacceptable was the organization’s disarmament and the lack of details regarding Israel’s military withdrawal and presence on the outskirts of the enclave. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that he and his Qatari and Turkish counterparts were still working on convincing Hamas to accept the proposal. Prime Minister Netanyahu previously stated that Israel would accept the plan as most of the objectives both political and military have been covered in the 20 points of the document. The latest proposal arrives on the back of Israel’s encirclement of Gaza City, where the military controls large parts of the city while tanks and other military assets are securing the perimeter. Hamas’ leadership is split between Istanbul, Doha and the Gaza Strip, while reported divisions between the organization’s military and political wing were the dominant factors in the organization’s delayed response.
Impact: Hamas is attempting to avoid complete capitulation by outlining amendments to Trump’s peace plan which could in turn be used by Israel as an argument to continue its military campaign in Gaza. Hamas’ decision is contingent on cohesion between its military and political leadership which is reportedly splintered as fractions within the organization are pushing towards refusal of the peace deal. Anything other than complete and unequivocal acceptance of the peace agreement would be perceived as a refusal by Israel and the US which would collapse the peace initiative and continue the war and humanitarian devastation. Presently there are no constructive indications that Hamas would consider accepting the peace deal without additional conditions and amendments. Unless the mediators succeed in pressuring Hamas to unconditionally accept the deal or the US and Israel show constraint in considering Hamas’ amendments, the devastation in the Gaza Strip would continue causing unimaginable consequences.