US President Donald Trump's ambitious 20-point Gaza Peace Plan had sparked hope globally. With Israel's agreement and support from eight Muslim and Arab nations, including Pakistan and Qatar, the plan seemed promising by September 30. However, recent revelations suggest a last-minute alteration by Trump and Netanyahu to the original conditions.
According to US media reports, the changes to the proposal presented to the Palestinian organization Hamas emerged following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intervention. As a result, Qatar, acting as the chief mediator with Hamas, is now calling for a review of these altered terms.
Axios reported, "Due to Netanyahu's involvement, the current offer to Hamas diverges significantly from the agreement originally settled by the US and a group of Arab and Muslim nations."
Reports from the Associated Press corroborate that original proposals crafted with Arab and Muslim countries had been modified. It seems that key segments were reshaped to favor Israel.
These allegations of amendments to the Gaza peace plan arise as President Trump issued a three to four-day ultimatum to Hamas. He warned of dire consequences should they fail to respond swiftly, elevating the peace plan to a decisive ultimatum for Hamas.
Which Countries Supported It?
On September 30, nations including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan released a joint statement backing Trump's plan. However, it quickly surfaced that modifications to key components of the peace proposal provided to Hamas had occurred.
Source: aajtak
Discussions Held in Two Locations
To finalize the agreement, discussions were held concurrently on September 29 in Washington D.C. and Doha. Axios cited a source saying while Trump and Netanyahu deliberated over the deal details at the White House, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was presenting it to Hamas leaders in Doha.
Trump had reportedly requested Netanyahu to extend an apology to Thani over a recent attack in Qatar targeting Hamas officials, whom Qatar has long hosted. Following the public apology, Qatar resumed its mediation efforts with Hamas.
What Changes Were Made to the Gaza Peace Plan?
According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu succeeded in altering crucial elements of Trump's proposal at the eleventh hour concerning Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas's disarmament.
The original plan suggested IDF's return to their battle lines and preparation for hostage release. However, the revised version stipulated withdrawal only to newly agreed lines, allowing forces to remain in substantial parts of Gaza.
Similarly, the initial agreement promised amnesty to peaceful Hamas members. But it was modified to require them to disarm, considerably toughening conditions for Hamas.
Discontent Among Muslim Nations
These modifications have sparked displeasure among several Muslim countries. Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Turkish officials voiced objections. Axios reported that Qatar, instrumental in the negotiations, attempted to prevent the White House from publicizing the plan to avoid escalating disputes, but the Trump administration went ahead, leaving Muslim nations compelled to provide support.
Now, leaders from these countries are accused of compromising Palestinian rights for political gain, with critics labeling them as ‘traitors’ to the Muslim community.
