By Farah Najjar, AFP and Reuters
Oct 2, 2025
Hamas says it will respond ‘soon’ to Trump’s proposal to end Gaza war
Egypt’s foreign minister warned of escalation if the Palestinian group rejects plan to end the nearly two-year conflict.
An official from Hamas says the Palestinian group will respond “soon” to United States President Donald Trump’s proposal to end Israel’s nearly two-year war on Gaza.
Hamas political bureau member Mohammed Nazzal told Al Jazeera Arabic on Thursday that the group was discussing Trump’s plan with the goal of stopping Israel’s war on Gaza and would soon announce its position on the proposal.
Nazzal said Hamas, as representatives of the Palestinian resistance, has a right to express its views “in a way that serves the interests” of the Palestinian people.
“We are not dealing [with the plan] under the logic that time is a sword pointed at our neck,” Nazzal said.
Earlier this week, the White House unveiled a 20-point document that called for an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of captives held by Hamas for Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament and a transitional government led by an international body.
On Tuesday, Trump gave Hamas three to four days to agree to the plan.
Palestinians long for the war to end, but many believe the plan heavily favours Israel.
In previous negotiations, Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal from the famine-struck enclave and said it was seeking a permanent ceasefire, with guarantees that displaced families can return to their homes, particularly in the north of Gaza, where Israeli forces are intensifying attacks.
Egypt working to convince Hamas
Earlier on Thursday, Egypt’s foreign minister said his country was working with Qatar and Turkiye to convince Hamas to accept Trump’s proposal.
Speaking at the French Institute of International Relations in Paris on Thursday, Badr Abdelatty said it was clear that Hamas had to disarm and that Israel should not be given an excuse to carry on with its assault on Gaza.
“Let’s not give any excuse for one party to use Hamas as a pretext for this mad daily killings of civilians. What’s happening is far beyond the seventh of October,” he said, referring to the Palestinian group’s 2023 attack on Israel, in which 1,129 people were killed, according to Israeli tallies.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israel’s offensive on Gaza has killed more than 66,000 people, mostly women and children, but experts believe the actual death toll could be up to three times higher.
“It is beyond revenge. This is ethnic cleansing and genocide in motion. So enough is enough,” Abdelatty said.
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