Responding to US President Donald Trump's proposals regarding Palestinian refugee evacuation and Gaza control, a Hamas source in Gaza declared on Thursday that the terror organization would mount "strong verbal and physical resistance if Trump or even the Israeli right-wing government attempts to implement such a plan." He threatened that implementation could derail ongoing ceasefire negotiations and trigger regional instability.
Speaking to the Saudi newspaper A-Sharq Al-Awsat, the Hamas source warned that this plan would have "far-reaching consequences affecting all regional countries. The potential outcomes are unpredictable." He disclosed that while Hamas leadership had individually reviewed Trump's statements, no comprehensive discussions had yet been conducted.
Another senior Hamas official operating outside Gaza told the Saudi newspaper that the terror organization would interpret any evacuation attempts as an effort to "eliminate the Palestinian cause," triggering both operational and diplomatic responses. "The US administration must recognize that such actions would impact phases two and three of the ceasefire. The Trump administration should focus on pressuring Netanyahu's government to advance the existing agreement rather than introducing disruptive proposals that could derail everything."
The source noted that "While Hamas has become familiar with such declarations recently – these statements are taken seriously given their public nature on the world stage. These particular statements are notable for the unified Arab, Islamic, and international opposition they've generated." Hamas leadership believes Trump's plan "faces significant implementation challenges on the ground, relegating it to merely theoretical status."
"Attempts to displace Palestinians have persisted for decades without success – even under military pressure. Israel's failure in the Gaza war indicates that neither the right-wing government, the Trump administration's backers, nor any other force will succeed." He concluded by warning, "Any such plan will be classified as a new occupation and met with appropriate resistance and force."
