World Leaders React to Hamas's Conditional Acceptance of Trump's Gaza Peace Plan
World Leaders React to Hamas's Conditional Acceptance of Trump's Gaza Peace Plan
Date: October 4, 2025
In a potential turning point in Israel's two-year war on Gaza, Hamas's partial acceptance of U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan has drawn hopeful reactions from world leaders while revealing significant divisions that could complicate final implementation. The mixed response from the Palestinian militant group, which agreed to release hostages but omitted key demands like disarmament, has created a complex diplomatic landscape as international players push to "seize the opportunity" to end the devastating conflict.
Breaking Developments
The diplomatic movement began when Hamas submitted its response to President Trump's peace plan late Friday, with the group announcing it was ready to release all remaining captives and hand over power to other Palestinians, while stating that other elements needed further negotiations .
In a significant shift, President Trump responded by telling Israel to "immediately stop bombing Gaza," adding that he believed Hamas was "ready for a lasting peace" . This marked the first time since returning to office that Trump has tried to force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the fighting .
Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was "surprised and shocked" by Trump's response, having wanted to coordinate a joint Israeli-American reaction that wouldn't portray Hamas's response as positive . Despite this, Netanyahu's office announced early Saturday that Israel was "preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of the Trump plan for the release of all the hostages" .
Hamas's Position: What Was Offered, What Was Omitted
Hamas's response included several significant concessions while carefully avoiding commitment to some of the plan's most demanding elements:
Table: Key Aspects of Trump's Plan vs. Hamas's Response
The group's statement emphasized that aspects concerning "the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people" should be decided based on a "unanimous national position and relevant international laws and resolutions" . This careful wording suggests that while Hamas is willing to negotiate, it seeks to maintain some influence in determining Palestine's future.
Global Reactions: Hope with Reservations
Mediators and Regional Powers
The initial international response has been largely optimistic, particularly from countries that have been central to negotiation efforts:
Qatar, a key mediator, welcomed Hamas's announcement "of its agreement to President Trump's plan, and its readiness to release all hostages" and affirmed support for Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire .
Egypt, another crucial player, said it hoped for a "positive development" and would work with Arab states, the U.S., and European countries to reach a permanent ceasefire .
Turkiye stated that the Palestinian group's response "provides an opportunity for the immediate establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza" .
Pakistan called Hamas's response "a welcome step" that "must now result in an immediate ceasefire, end to Palestinian suffering, ensure hostages release, and allow free flow of humanitarian aid" .
Western Leaders Express Optimism
Western governments largely greeted the development with hopeful statements:
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Hamas's acceptance "a significant step forwards" and urged all sides "to implement the agreement without delay" .
France: President Emmanuel Macron wrote that "The release of all hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza are within reach!" and said Hamas's commitment must be followed up without delay .
Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the plan represented "the best chance for peace" and that Germany "fully supports" Trump's "call upon both sides" .
Canada: PM Mark Carney welcomed "commitments from Hamas to relinquish power and release all remaining hostages," while thanking Trump for his "essential leadership" .
European Union: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Hamas's "stated readiness" to release hostages is "encouraging," adding that "This moment must be seized" .
Cautious and Mixed Responses
Other reactions reflected more caution:
Malaysia: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim offered a more cautionary tone, noting that "The peace plan presented by the United States is not perfect, and we even disagree with much of it. However, our current priority is to save the lives of the Palestinian people" .
India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Trump's "leadership" in peace efforts that have made "decisive progress," calling indications of hostage release "a significant step forward" .
United Nations: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was encouraged by the Hamas statement and urged parties to "seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end" .
Sticking Points and Potential Obstacles
Despite the optimistic tone from many world leaders, significant hurdles remain:
Disarmament remains the most notable omission in Hamas's response . Trump's plan explicitly demands that Hamas lay down its weapons and have no future role in governing Gaza, but the group's statement completely avoided this issue .
Internal divisions within Hamas also pose challenges. BBC reports indicate that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas's military wing in Gaza, objects to the ceasefire plan and is "determined to fight on," believing the plan was "designed to finish Hamas" whether the group accepts it or not . This reveals a potential rift between political and military factions.
The proposed international stabilization force and "Board of Peace" overseen by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair face resistance. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk outright stated that Hamas rejects the "Board of Peace," emphasizing "We will never accept anyone who is not Palestinian to control the Palestinians" . Blair's involvement is particularly controversial due to his role in the 2003 Iraq invasion .
For Israel, hostage release timing presents complications. Hamas claims the 72-hour release timeframe is "theoretical and unrealistic," with Abu Marzouk explaining it could take months to locate all the bodies of dead hostages .
Path Forward: Negotiations and Implementation
The coming days will be critical as parties move toward detailed negotiations:
Israel is preparing a negotiating team and maps for partial troop withdrawal from Gaza .
Qatar and Egypt have begun working with the United States to continue talks on the proposal .
The Israeli military has instructed troops to reduce offensive activity, though it continues to warn that northern Gaza remains a "dangerous combat zone" .
The situation remains fluid, with President Trump acknowledging that despite the progress, "We'll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down and concrete" .
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