With Donald Trump rallying international support for his Israel Hamas ceasefire proposal, Hamas could have a tough time refusing the offer.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have finally outmaneuvered Hamas.
After facing months of genocide accusations, pariah status and global pressure to halt the war in Gaza, Netanyahu has agreed on a ceasefire plan with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The 20-point plan, unveiled by Trump and Netanyahu at the White House, greatly favors Israel.
Hamas says it is still studying the plan and will respond soon. But with Trump rallying international support for it, including from Hamas’ closest allies, the Islamic militant group could have a tough time refusing the proposal.
“Instead of Hamas isolating us, we turned the tables and isolated Hamas,” Netanyahu boasted in a social media video before leaving Washington.
Here’s a closer look:Netanyahu’s vision of ‘total victory’
Throughout nearly two years of war, Netanyahu has promised to push ahead until “total victory” – not only returning hostages held by Hamas and defeating the group on the battlefield, but pushing it out of power and destroying its military capabilities.
Given Hamas’ deep roots in Palestinian society, critics have derided this vision as unrealistic. But Trump’s plan largely validates this goal.
Hamas would have to release all hostages, alive and dead, within days of the plan taking effect. It would be forced to disarm and turn over power to a group of apolitical technocrats, supervised by an international body led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Israel would maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force, comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security inside Gaza. The U.S. would lead a massive internationally funded reconstruction effort in Gaza.
The plan envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority – something Netanyahu opposes.
