Palestinian groups reject Trump’s Gaza plan as international reactions diverge

While Arab and Islamic countries praise Trump’s Gaza plan, officials in Gaza argue that Washington is trying to establish a “trusteeship administration” that would legitimize the Israeli occupation and deny Palestinians their fundamental rights.

Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza condemned the “peace plan” announced by US President Donald Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as “vague” and stating that the text serves to prolong the genocide in Gaza.

“We will not accept any proposal that does not include our people’s right to self-determination and protection from massacres,” said Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi, describing Trump’s announcement as an “attempt to stifle the momentum and recognition the Palestinian state has gained in the international arena.”

According to Al Jazeera, Qatari and Egyptian mediators delivered the joint US-Israeli text to Hamas’s negotiating team during the night.

Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, also used harsh words for the proposal: “This is a US-Israeli agreement that fully reflects Israel’s position. It is a formula for the continuation of the assault on the Palestinian people. Israel wants to impose through the US what it could not achieve through war. Therefore, we see this announcement as a recipe for setting the region on fire.”

Ismail al-Thawabteh, Director of the Gaza Government Media Office, rejected Trump’s 20-point plan, stating that it does not offer a permanent solution; on the contrary, he said it aims to establish a trusteeship regime that would legitimize the Israeli occupation and disregard the rights of Palestinians.

“The only way to stop the genocide is for Israel to cease its attacks, lift the siege, end the systematic destruction, and guarantee the right of Palestinians to live freely and establish an independent state. Any proposal that envisions Gaza as a demilitarized security zone, devoid of sovereignty and under international administration, is unequivocally rejected by the Palestinian national conscience,” he stated.

Voices from the ground: “Unrealistic, risk of manipulation”

Ibrahim Judeh, located in the so-called humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, told AFP, “It’s clear the plan is unrealistic. The US and Israel have written a text with conditions they know Hamas will never accept. This means the continuation of war and suffering.”

Abu Mazen Nassar expressed similar concerns, saying the US-Israeli proposal could be a “trick” to force Palestinian resistance groups to release hostages without offering a guarantee of peace in return: “This is outright manipulation. What does it mean to hand over all detainees when there are no official guarantees for ending the war?”

“As a people, we will reject this mockery. Whatever Hamas decides now, it is already too late.”

Support from Arab and Muslim leaders

In contrast, the foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt issued a joint statement praising Trump’s “sincere efforts” to end the genocide in Gaza.

The text stated, “The ministers affirm their readiness to work positively and constructively with the United States and the parties to ensure the finalization and implementation of the agreement, emphasizing that this should be done in a way that ensures peace, security, and stability for the peoples of the region.”

EU: The best opportunity

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated a positive view of the plan presented by US President Donald Trump for a ceasefire in Gaza and stated that the EU is ready to contribute: “The conflict must end with the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages. The two-state solution remains the only viable path to a Middle East where the Israeli and Palestinian peoples live side-by-side in peace and security, free from violence and terror.”

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas argued that the plan offers the “best opportunity” to end the war.

Ramallah is cautiously pleased

The Palestinian Authority made a positive reference to the plan, reiterating its commitment to working with the US and its partners to reach a “comprehensive agreement that will pave the way for a just peace based on the two-state solution.”

A written statement from the Palestinian Presidency emphasized that Palestine believes the US President will find a path to peace. It expressed the will to work and engage constructively with the US, regional countries, and other partners to end the conflict in Gaza.

It was noted that any agreement concerning Gaza must include provisions for “preventing the annexation of land and the displacement of Palestinians, halting unilateral steps that violate international law, the complete withdrawal of Israel from Gaza, and the unification of territories and institutions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the Gaza Strip under one roof.”

Furthermore, the statement stressed the need to end the occupation and pave the way for a just peace based on the two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian State living side-by-side with Israel in peace, security, and good neighborly relations.