According to Al Arabiya, internal disputes in Hamas over Trump's peace plan for Gaza are preventing the terrorist organization from making a decision at this stage, despite pressure from the United States and most Arab states.
To avoid missing the deadline set by Trump, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey are advancing a formula under which Hamas would declare its acceptance of the plan's principles, after which an international conference would be convened to discuss the details.
The conference would include Gulf states, Egypt, Turkey, Hamas, Israel, the US, and representatives of European countries. The idea, already presented to Hamas officials, is now under discussion within the group's leadership. The US is involved through special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
One of Hamas' main questions is whether a ceasefire would begin immediately after its announcement of support for the plan's principles. Hamas argues that such approval should mean an automatic halt to military action. Israel's position is that the ceasefire would only take effect once Hamas and all other Palestinian factions give full consent, at which point a three-day countdown would begin for the release of all remaining hostages.
Hamas has already told the mediators that it would need more than three days to establish contact with all the armed groups holding hostages and prepare them for release. Hamas leaders also raised the possibility that another group, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad – which also holds hostages – might refuse to comply.
In talks with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators, Hamas emphasized that a comprehensive agreement would require prior consent from all factions. Islamic Jihad has already stated that it opposes the plan.
The mediators expect Hamas to provide a nuanced response by early next week: formal acceptance of the plan but with demands for changes and clarifications on several points. That is why they are pushing to hold the proposed conference. An Arab diplomat involved in the talks said Turkey's involvement has shifted the dynamic. On the one hand, Hamas leaders are receiving encouragement and backing; on the other, the Turkish representatives have joined in pressuring Hamas to accept the plan, stressing that it offers the fastest and most viable path to ending the war.
Qatar, too, has moved away from its former neutrality, joining Egypt in pressing Hamas in line with commitments made to Washington. According to the source, neither Qatar nor Turkey has threatened Hamas leaders with expulsion if they refuse the plan, but they could use that card if Hamas hardens its opposition.
A US diplomatic source said President Trump is determined to end the war through his plan. If Hamas rejects it, the US will fully support Israel's military operations, as Trump has already pledged, and will also help begin implementing the plan in areas not controlled by Hamas.
Israel Hayom previously revealed that several clauses of the plan concerning refugee rehabilitation are already being implemented, including Israel's approval of a list of hundreds of Palestinian workers slated to serve as officials in the new governing authority in Gaza.
