Hamas Seeks Changes to Trump Plan for Gaza
Hamas negotiators in Doha signaled a willingness to engage with Washingtons Gaza plan but are pressing to amend several core provisions, notably the disarmament clause and the expulsion of Hamas cadres. A Palestinian source close to Hamas leadership told AFP that changes are necessary and certain provisions require international clarifications before a formal reply is issued.
According to the same source, Hamas needs two or three days at most to deliver an official response after face-to-face discussions with mediators from Qatar and Egypt, alongside Turkish representatives, in Doha on Tuesday. The temporary timeline reflects the movement’s effort to balance strategic goals with the desire to halt hostilities and secure international backing for a durable settlement.
The Trump plan for Gaza, endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, envisions a ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the disarmament of the Palestinian group, and a phased Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. In private discussions, Hamas officials are pressing to modify several clauses, particularly those on disarmament and the expulsion of Hamas cadres, arguing that they require rewording to reflect realities on the ground and the principles guiding Palestinian resistance.
The same Palestinian source added that Hamas is also demanding international guarantees to assure that Israel will withdraw completely from Gaza and that there will be no further assassinations inside or outside Palestinian territories. The insistence on guarantees underscores a broader concern that any ceasefire not be accompanied by uncontested shifts in power or punitive actions that could jeopardize future negotiations.
September has already seen deadly violence linked to these negotiations, including an Israeli attack in which several Hamas officials gathered in Doha to discuss the ceasefire proposal. Those events have intensified the pressure on mediators to produce clarifications and a coherent framework that can win broad acceptance among Hamas leadership and its supporters in Gaza.
There is also an ebb and flow inside Hamas about how to respond. Sources close to the movement describe two camps: one faction backing conditional approval that would enable a ceasefire while seeking clarifications that reflect Hamas concerns; another faction pushing for unconditional endorsement, grounded in the belief that a credible ceasefire under Trump guarantees could pave the way for broader regional stabilization through mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and other regional partners.
The Doha talks are part of a wider regional effort. The prime mediator, Qatar, confirmed that while the plan has merits in ending Palestinian suffering, several provisions require precise clarifications. In a recent interview on Al Jazeera, Qatar prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said there are aspects of the plan that will need discussion and negotiation to align with regional realities and the Palestinians legitimate political objectives.
Analysts caution that the divergence inside Hamas and the need for international guarantees could delay a swift endorsement of the Trump plan for Gaza. Netanyahu has publicly backed the framework, which raises the stakes for mediation groups that must balance assurances to Hamas with Israel’s security concerns. The question now is whether the clarifications can be articulated in a way that satisfies Hamas core principles while preserving the leverage necessary to maintain durable ceasefire conditions.
As mediators continue to press for a path forward, the fact that Hamas remains in contact with regional and Arab partners signals a broader regional interest in a stable outcome. The next 48 to 72 hours are likely to determine whether a modified version of the Trump plan for Gaza can earn Hamas acceptance or whether the negotiations will drift toward a longer negotiation cycle with intensified regional diplomacy.
Doha Talks and Regional Mediation
In Doha, mediators from Qatar and Egypt, with Turkish involvement, have been working to translate political assurances into operational language that both sides can accept. The aim is to produce a reliable set of guarantees on disarmament, security arrangements, and the path to Israeli withdrawal that can withstand scrutiny from domestic audiences on both sides and from international observers.
The Two Camps Within Hamas
While the broader leadership seeks a pragmatic resolution that prioritizes a ceasefire and hostage releases, a subset of Hamas leadership is pushing for clarifications that would safeguard the movement from concessions deemed unacceptable by its rank and file. The outcome remains uncertain, with the possibility of a conditional agreement that preserves national principles while leveraging international mediation to deliver a verifiable ceasefire.
What This Means for the Region
The evolving stance of Hamas on the Trump plan for Gaza has broad implications for regional stability. If negotiators can agree on clarifications and guarantees, the pathway to a ceasefire could shorten, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza might see tangible relief through hostage releases and reduced violence. If not, the region could see renewed cycles of pressure and renewed diplomatic fatigue as mediators attempt to salvage a framework that satisfies competing interests.
Looking Ahead
Observers will monitor whether Hamas submits a formal conditional acceptance or a more cautious endorsement tied to explicit guarantees. The coming days will reveal whether the Doha process yields a pragmatic compromise that aligns with Palestinian strategic objectives and regional security concerns, or whether the talks stall, prolonging uncertainty for civilians in Gaza and across the Middle East.
