The Media Review Network welcomes Hamas’s wise and strategic response to the 20-points outlined by US President Donald Trump for an end to the genocide in Gaza.
Though it has stopped short of a full and unqualified approval of the “proposed plan”, Hamas has responded with great wisdom and maturity to ensure that the collective will of all Palestinian “factions and forces” is embodied in its response:
“In light of the ongoing aggression and genocidal war waged against our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip, and stemming from our national responsibility to uphold the principles, rights, and higher interests of our people, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has conducted extensive consultations within its leadership institutions, with Palestinian factions and forces, and with mediators and friendly parties, in order to reach a responsible position regarding President Donald Trump’s plan.”
The much-awaited decision by Hamas has neither elaborated nor commented on many of the contentious aspects of the Trump-plan.
However it has reaffirmed its approval to release all the captives (dead and alive) and to relinquish governance of Gaza.
The Hamas statement makes it clear that the decision it arrived at and delivered to the mediators, is the result of a thorough study of the proposed plan and extensive consultations.
Though no names are mentioned, the consultations were with fellow resistance movements as well as with “mediators and friendly parties”.
The Hamas statement is brief yet reflects deep sense of responsibility and profound astuteness:
“Hamas appreciates the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, as well as those of U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at ending the war on Gaza, securing a prisoner exchange, ensuring the immediate entry of humanitarian aid, rejecting the occupation of the Strip, and preventing the displacement of our people.”
Five key areas of significance are captured in the above statement:
* Commitment to end the genocide;
* Prisoner exchange;
* Entry of humanitarian aid;
* Lifting the occupation;
* Preventing displacement.
An additional commitment contained in Hamas’s statement related to the release of all Israeli captives, is to embark on immediate negotiations to establish the process:
“In this framework, and in line with achieving a complete ceasefire and full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Hamas announces its approval of releasing all Israeli captives—both living and dead—within the framework of the exchange outlined in President Trump’s proposal, provided that the necessary field conditions for the exchange are secured. Hamas affirms its readiness to enter, through mediators, immediate negotiations to discuss the details of this process.”
On the matter of the governance of Gaza, Hamas has opted to be silent on the Tony Blair “GITA” plan but agreed to transfer authority to Palestinian technocrats:
“The movement also reaffirms its agreement to transfer the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian authority composed of independents (technocrats), based on national consensus and backed by Arab and Islamic support.”
The final paragraph in Hamas’s statement is a classic example of the movement’s political philosophy rooted in the non-negotiable rights of the Palestinian cause:
“As for other issues in President Trump’s proposal concerning the future of Gaza and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, these are tied to a unified national Palestinian stance, grounded in relevant international laws and resolutions, and will be discussed within a comprehensive national framework in which Hamas will actively and responsibly participate.”
In welcoming Hamas’s decision to remain principled and firm in not abandoning Palestine’s just cause, the Media Review Network is nevertheless aware that the genocidal Zionist regime will be hard pressed to forfeit its “Greater Israel” project.
Iqbal Jassat
Executive Member
Media Review Network
Johannesburg
South Africa