Egyptian Foreign Minister Pressures the Palestinian Group to Embrace Trump's Gaza Strip Peace Plan and Disarm
Cairo and Doha are working on attempts to convince Hamas to accept Donald Trump's ultimatum to stop the conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to Egypt's foreign minister.
Mounting Diplomatic Pressure on the Group
Egypt's foreign minister stated that the opportunity is now for Hamas to surrender arms and refrain from offering Israel any excuse to persist in its operations in the region, where 28 Palestinians were fatally struck on Friday.
“Hamas should not be used as an excuse for the relentless killing of innocents, a situation that has worsened significantly since last year,” the minister stated.
The diplomat added that Cairo is “coordinating with our brothers in Qatar and with our colleagues in Turkey in order to convince Hamas to respond positively to this plan”.
Details of the US Initiative
The initiative would necessitate Hamas to:
- Disarm and withdraw from political activities
- Return the captives in custody from the October incident, 20 of whom are believed to be living
In exchange, Israeli authorities would:
- Phase out its military from Gaza
- Substituted by an multinational troops
- Allow a transitional authority headed by Trump
Most analysts agree that the plan would spell an end to Hamas’s identity as an militant organization, while Israel would make few concessions.
Split Opinions within the Faction
The group is at odds over how to respond, with factions seeking additional time to review the terms.
Izz al-Din al-Haddad has opposed the plan, seeing it as a move to eradicate Hamas if they agree.
Insiders suggest that Hamas is expected to request changes regarding:
- The requirement to lay down arms
- Continued presence of soldiers in Gaza
- Guarantees that the Hamas leaders will not be attacked
Gaza Situation Worsens
Israel continued its offensive in Gaza City and bombardment across the territory on Friday, claiming the lives of 28 people.
Several of the casualties were in Gaza City, while the others were killed in the south, with three in an unmanned aircraft attack in a southern area, which had been once declared a protected space.
The Israeli military issued its last evacuation order for Gaza City on earlier this week, with the defence minister announcing that anyone remaining would be labeled as militants, a designation that defies global norms.
A vast number of residents remain unable to leave in the city, including those who cannot afford the trip to the south, which reportedly costs more than $1,000.
“Numerous civilians are stranded on roadsides, awaiting shelter,” commented an aid official.
United Nations agencies said that there is nowhere secure for people fleeing Gaza City, as locations labeled as protected spaces in the south are “places of death”.
A UNICEF spokesperson called the notion of a safe zone as “unrealistic”, stating that bombs are used with “chilling predictability” and shelters serving as temporary shelters are regularly reduced to rubble.
Medical Services under Overwhelming Demand
Healthcare centers in southern Gaza are stretched to the limit, with the Red Cross field hospital treating over twice its normal limits.
Earlier, al-Nasser hospital took in the remains of 27 individuals of people killed by the forces.
Dr Ahmad al-Farra described the circumstances as “exceptionally challenging”.
Israel has been accused of targeting hospitals and medical workers, with healthcare professional said to be detained while traveling to work in Khan Younis.
Authorities has asserted that detained healthcare workers had connections to Hamas, though lacking proof.
Total casualties from the conflict in the strip has reached more than sixty-two thousand Palestinians killed and nearly 170,000 injured, as reported by the medical sources.