Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye pressure Hamas to accept US ceasefire plan amid internal dissent

While mediators are reportedly pressuring Hamas to accept the US plan, there are objections within the organization that the plan is “one-sided and unjust.” Sources indicate that an official response is expected within two days.

According to Axios, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye are pressuring Hamas to respond positively to the plan presented by US President Donald Trump for Gaza. However, information from various channels indicates a tendency within the organization’s ranks to reject the proposal, viewing it as “unjust.”

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, who are among the mediators, reportedly met with Hamas leaders in Doha on Monday night. On Tuesday, MIT chief İbrahim Kalın also joined the talks. The framework of the plan and its implementation timeline were discussed at the meetings.

According to a source who spoke with Axios, Al Thani told Hamas at the Monday meeting that “a better deal cannot be secured,” conveying his belief that Trump is determined to end the war, which should be considered a guarantee for Hamas. According to the same source, Hamas stated it would review the proposal in good faith. Qatar also announced in a statement on Monday that the proposal would be “evaluated responsibly.”

Washington’s expectation: Persuasion efforts from three countries for a “yes”

Another report from Axios emphasized that the Trump administration particularly expects Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye to persuade Hamas to say “yes.” According to a US official, “cutting off funding and isolating the organization” are on the table to pressure Hamas. The same official urged caution, stating, “Nothing is certain when it comes to these actors.”

Trump announced the plan on Monday at a joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Netanyahu also approved the proposal. The next day, Trump said Hamas must respond within “three or four days,” and if there is no agreement, they would “pay the price in hell.”

According to the proposal, the remaining 48 Israeli hostages are to be released within 72 hours. In return, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, including all women and children. Additionally, for the body of each Israeli hostage, Israel will hand over the remains of 15 Gazans.

The plan includes Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in three stages, the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and uninterrupted humanitarian aid access to the region. However, there is no definitive timeline. The transfer of administration to an international transitional government, not including Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, is also among the provisions. Hamas, however, refuses to disarm without the recognition of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel does not accept.

Conflicting signals

Different assessments of Hamas’s approach are emerging. A report by the BBC, citing a senior Hamas official, stated that the organization opposes the so-called International Stability Force, which it sees as a “new form of occupation.” The same source signaled a likely rejection, saying the proposal “serves Israel’s interests” and “ignores the interests of the Palestinian people.”

In contrast, Hamas sources cited by the Saudi Arabia-based Asharq Al-Awsat reported that while they find the plan “one-sided and unjust,” the proposal will be examined “positively.” These sources denied the claims in the BBC report, asserting that officials inside Gaza, in their contacts with leaders abroad, emphasized the importance of responding positively to the plan to end the war, and that the military wing shares this view.

According to the BBC, the key point for Hamas is the condition of handing over all hostages in the first 72 hours, as this could eliminate the organization’s main bargaining chip. The report suggested that Hamas leader in Gaza, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, is “determined to continue the war,” and that external leaders took a backseat in recent talks because control of the hostages is not outside Gaza.

Sources state that no firm date has been given for Hamas’s official response, but mediators are requesting a reply within approximately two days. It is noted that the plan’s provisions are detailed, but real guarantees for its implementation have not been clarified. It is also mentioned that some adjustments to the hostage release schedule may be necessary, particularly as time may be needed to locate the burial sites of hostages who have died inside Gaza.