Nobel lining for Trump, Hobson’s choice for Hamas in peace plan

All eyes have turned to Hamas as President Trump unveiled his 20-point peace plan for Gaza on Monday.

- Ashwin Ahmad

The plan, which was unveiled in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was viewed by West Asia watchers as a take it or leave it offer to Hamas. Give back all the hostages within 72 hours, disarm completely, and take no part in any future government in Gaza.

For Israel, there were no such conditions. Instead, as the document pointed out, the Israeli military “will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the [Israeli military], ISF, the guarantors, and the United States.” In other words, the IDF would not be leaving Gaza anytime soon.

Trump also made clear to Hamas the price of noncompliance. If the group refused, he said. “Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.”

The Trump plan is interesting in its timing. Diplomats believe the president is looking to get selected for the Nobel Peace Prize whose winner is set to be announced on October 10. The other requirement was securing Netanyahu’s political survival. The Israeli prime minister who is under heavy pressure both from members of his right-wing coalition and the public to bring the hostages home, has been offered a face-saving route by which he can accomplish this without giving up his larger aims of annexing both Gaza and the West Bank.