Hamas has responded to President Trump 20-point peace plan with the statement below. The statement requires some interpretation. As far as I can tell, no one but President Trump reads this as an acceptance of Trump’s plan. The related Al Jazeera’s headline — we have Al Jazeera down as a more forthright Hamas supporter than the rest of the media — headlines its story Hamas agrees to parts of Trump’s Gaza plan, seeks more talks, bombing eases. Searching X for the statement itself this morning, Fred Fleitz’s interpretation turned up with the statement embedded. Check it out for yourself.
I read the Hamas statement. It does not accept critical parts of Trump's plan, such as disarming or excluding Hamas from any role in Gaza's future.
This is a "no." It is a clever response that dangles the release of hostages so Israel and the US will be blamed for rejecting… pic.twitter.com/P4zxm0a2EO
— Fred Fleitz (@FredFleitz) October 3, 2025
President Trump’s response is below. It requires somewhat less interpretation than that of Hamas. He is privy to more information than we are. He is moving a few pieces behind the scenes to arrange a regional peace. He sees a sees an era on the horizon. In the new era the lion will lay down with the lamb.
"Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly… this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East." – President Trump pic.twitter.com/OKPYBmW5ql
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 3, 2025
Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn’t see much wiggle room in President Trump’s statement. This is the current Times of Israel headline over its current live updates: IDF shifts to solely defensive operations in Gaza after demand from Trump, as US president pushes to end war.
John Lennon formulated the proposition War is over if you want it. Trump wants it to be over. Hamas wants to talk about it.
In his comments on President Trump’s 20-point plan John Hinderaker posed the cynical question “Peace in our time?” and adopted a wait-and-see attitude. His cynicism is warranted. Trump presented his plan as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Hamas wants to talk about it. John’s admonition that we wait and and see was and is warranted.
