World awaits Hamas response to Trump peace plan for Gaza

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say they have agreed a plan to end the war in Gaza, but it is unclear whether Hamas will accept the terms. Samy Magdy and Lee Keath, of the Associated Press, look at the proposals

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Gaza lies in ruins after repeated Israeli air strikes

AFTER Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threw his support behind the US peace plan for Gaza, the question now is whether Hamas will agree.

Hamas faces a bitter trade-off ~ the proposal demands that the militant group effectively surrender in return for uncertain gains. But if it rejects the deal, the US could give Israel an even freer hand to continue its punishing campaign in the already-devastated territory.

Under the proposal, the militant group would have to disarm in return for an end to fighting, humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and the promise of reconstruction in Gaza - all desperately hoped for by its population.

But the proposal has only a vague promise that some day, perhaps, Palestinian statehood might be possible.

For the foreseeable future, Gaza and its more than two million Palestinians would be under international control. An international security force would move in, and a “Board of Peace” headed by Trump and former UK prime minister Tony Blair, to oversee Gaza’s administration and reconstruction. The territory would remain surrounded by Israeli troops.

Trump and Netanyahu said they agreed on the plan on Monday after talks at the White House.

The proposal includes one provision that Netanyahu and his hard-line government most _ strongly oppose: It says the Palestinian Authority will eventually govern Gaza. But Netanyahu is likely betting that will never come to pass. Israel also rejects any Palestinian state.

‘The White House issued the text on Monday of its 20-point proposal.

Here is what it says: