Hamas on Tuesday said it is reviewing US President Donald Trump’s proposal for ending the Gaza war, which is backed by Israel, reports AFP quoting a Palestinian source.
"Hamas has begun a series of consultations within its political and military leaderships, both inside Palestine and abroad," the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
"The discussions could take several days due to the complexities of communication among leadership members and movements, especially after the Israeli aggression in Doha," the source added. Another Palestinian source also confirmed that Hamas was examining Trump's plan.
Qatar also confirmed that Hamas was reviewing the 20-point peace plan and said that a meeting with Hamas and Turkey on the same was scheduled to be held later today.
The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself.
In a video statement posted on his Telegram channel after his joint press conference with Trump, Netanyahu said the military would stay in most of Gaza, and also said he did not agree to a Palestinian state during his talks with Trump.
"We will recover all our hostages, alive and well, while the (Israeli military) will remain in most of the Gaza Strip," he said.
Still, Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of Netanyahu's coalition government, blasted the plan as a "resounding diplomatic failure".
"In my estimation, it will also end in tears. Our children will be forced to fight in Gaza again," he said.
In Washington on Monday, Trump insisted that peace in the Middle East was "beyond very close" and describing the announcement as a "beautiful day -- potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation".
His plan includes deployment of a "temporary international stabilisation force" -- and the creation of a transitional authority headed by Trump himself and including former British premier Tony Blair.
Blair, still widely hated in the Middle East for his role in the 2003 Iraq war, hailed the "bold and intelligent" plan.
The deal would demand Hamas militants fully disarm and be excluded from future roles in the government, but those who agreed to "peaceful co-existence" would be given amnesty.
During the press conference, Netanyahu cast doubt on whether the Palestinian Authority, which nominally runs the occupied West Bank, would be allowed a role in Gaza's governance.
Trump noted that during their meeting Netanyahu had strongly opposed any Palestinian statehood -- something that the US plan leaves room for.
"I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims," Netanyahu said.
"If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself."
Trump said that Israel would have his "full backing" to do so if Hamas did not accept the deal.
Reaction was global, and swift. Key Arab and Muslim nations, including mediators Egypt and Qatar, hailed the agreement's "sincere efforts" in the wake of their own talks with Trump last week.
Washington's European allies promptly voiced support, with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy sharing strong expressions of support for the plan.
And European Union chief Antonio Costa urged all parties to "seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance."
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