After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threw his support behind the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, the question now is whether Hamas will agree.
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Hamas “three or four days” to respond to his Gaza ceasefire plan, which requires the militants to release hostages within that period, fully disarm, and be excluded from any future role in government, a post-war transitional authority led by Trump has also been proposed.
“We’re going to do about three or four days,” Trump told reporters when asked about any timeframe. “We’re just waiting for Hamas, and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not. And if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end.”
The move comes after Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who threw his support behind the US peace plan for Gaza.
During his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu said, “I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims,”.
“If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself, ” he added.
The proposal, however, has only a vague promise that some day, perhaps, Palestinian statehood might be possible. For the foreseeable future, Gaza and its more than 2 million Palestinians would be put under international control.
An international security force would move in, and a “Board of Peace” headed by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to oversee Gaza’s administration and reconstruction. The territory would remain surrounded by Israeli troops. — Agencies
