Arab Nations Unite Behind Trump's Gaza Peace Plan as Hamas Weighs Critical Decision

Arab and Muslim national leaders are urging Hamas to accept the Gaza peace proposal recently unveiled by US President Donald Trump, emphasizing that ending the conflict takes precedence over concerns about specific details.

Despite some differences between the 20-point proposal and what Trump previously discussed with these leaders in New York, they remain unified in their primary objective of halting Israel's military offensive in the devastated territory, according to informed sources.

These leaders view Israel's military campaign in Gaza since October 2023 and its assertion of military dominance across the Middle East as a threat to their own national security interests. For almost two years, Israel has been working to eliminate Hamas, causing widespread devastation in Gaza and creating a humanitarian crisis that has shocked the world with images of suffering Palestinians.

The conflict has expanded beyond Gaza to include Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, along with direct missile exchanges with Iran. Israel even conducted strikes in Qatar recently, targeting Hamas officials believed to be there.

A senior regional official, who attended meetings in New York and was briefed on Trump's discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN General Assembly, acknowledged that differences between the agreed framework and the plan announced by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu were expected. The official emphasized the importance of recognizing significant gains for Palestinians and Arab nations, particularly the rejection of proposals to displace Gazans from their territory.

While the document leaves several questions unanswered, especially regarding transitional governance and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force to support Palestinian police, the official highlighted three major achievements: ending the fighting, ensuring Palestinians remain to rebuild Gaza, and securing Israel's complete withdrawal from the strip.

These key points prompted foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt to quickly endorse the plan on Monday night, according to a source familiar with Saudi thinking.

Hamas therefore faces significant pressure to accept the deal, particularly as it's being advocated by its closest allies—Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Acceptance would require Hamas to disarm, a condition it has consistently rejected, though the plan does offer amnesty to those "who commit to peaceful co-existence" and safe passage options for others.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed that Qatar and Egypt presented the plan to Hamas on Monday night. A Hamas delegation met with officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in Doha on Tuesday to review the proposal and seek clarification on technical aspects.

Hamas is currently preparing its response after consulting with other Palestinian factions. Trump has indicated that Hamas has "about three or four days" to make its decision.

Sheikh Mohammed noted in an interview with Al-Jazeera that progress is being made toward "ending the war." He acknowledged that while some Arab and Muslim suggestions were incorporated into the Gaza plan following their meeting with Trump in New York, others "were not, of course."

The Qatari leader expressed hope that all parties would engage "constructively" with the plan to "seek a solution that stops the bloodshed."

H. A. Hellyer, senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, pointed out that parts of the proposal remain "vague," particularly regarding who will run the International Stabilization Force, how its responsibilities will be defined, and its duration in Gaza. The proposal describes the ISF as "a long-term internal security solution."

Other unresolved issues include the timing of Israel's military withdrawal and the process for determining when the Palestinian Authority is sufficiently reformed to assume control of Gaza, not to mention the ambiguous language regarding Palestinian statehood, a key objective for Arab and Muslim nations.

Despite these concerns, Hellyer believes the Arab and Muslim nations will support the plan as any proposal that reduces the scale of the crisis is preferable to Netanyahu continuing the devastating war.

The proposal calls for "full aid" to be delivered to Gaza with distribution managed by United Nations agencies "without interference from the two parties."

For oil-rich Gulf states, a top priority is shifting away from conflict to focus on ambitious economic and investment initiatives. Regional leaders also recognize that supporting a Gaza peace deal championed by Trump could strengthen their personal relationships with him and advance their interests in Washington.

"You could call it a Trump plan but it all started in Abu Dhabi," said Dubai-based Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, highlighting the crucial role played by UAE diplomats in formulating the 20-point plan and building regional consensus.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Netanyahu in New York prior to the plan's announcement. The ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stands to gain significantly if the Gaza plan moves forward. Ankara's involvement strengthens the "bromance" between Erdogan and Trump while giving Turkey influence over Palestinian affairs and a prominent role in Gaza reconstruction. According to Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, director of the Turkey Project at the Brookings Institution, this also advances Turkey's interests, particularly in neighboring Syria.

"Trump's special relationship with Erdogan makes it very obvious that he sees Turkey as a key security partner in the region," she said.