Hamas and PIJ Slam US-Israeli Proposal, Claim It ‘Extends Gaza Genocide’

In recent developments regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Palestinian resistance factions have voiced strong opposition to the “peace plan” introduced by US President Donald Trump on September 29. They describe the plan as “vague” and accuse it of supporting Israeli strategies that aim to “prolong the genocide in Gaza,” as reported by The Cradle. This situation underscores the deepening tensions and complex dynamics at play in the region.

Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi made a poignant statement regarding the proposal, emphasizing the Palestinian people’s fundamental rights. He asserted, “We will not accept any proposal that does not include the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and protection from massacres.” Mardawi further criticized Trump’s announcement, labeling it an attempt to undermine international support for Palestinian statehood.

According to Al-Jazeera, Qatari and Egyptian officials communicated the details of the US-Israeli plan to Hamas’s negotiating team late at night. The plan has faced significant backlash from various Palestinian leaders, who view it as a mere extension of Israeli interests.

The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Ziad al-Nakhala, condemned the proposal, stating, “It is a U.S.-Israeli agreement, reflecting Israel’s full stance.” Nakhala elaborated on his position, describing the proposal as a mechanism to perpetuate aggression against the Palestinian people. He argued that Israel is attempting to achieve through diplomatic means what it has failed to accomplish through military conflict, saying, “We consider the U.S.-Israeli announcement a recipe for igniting the region.”

Furthermore, Ismail al-Thawabta, the director of Gaza’s Government Media Office, expressed his rejection of Trump’s 20-point plan. He criticized it for lacking a sustainable solution and for aiming to impose a trusteeship that would legitimize Israeli occupation while denying Palestinians their rights. According to al-Thawabta, “The only way to end the genocide is to stop Israel’s attacks, lift the blockade, end the systematic extermination, and guarantee Palestinians’ right to live in freedom and establish an independent state.”

He firmly stated that any proposal that treats Gaza as a disarmed, non-sovereign security zone under international administration is “categorically unacceptable to the Palestinian national conscience.” This sentiment reflects the widespread frustration among Palestinian factions regarding perceived international negligence and complicity in the ongoing crisis.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jointly unveiled the 20-point proposal, which includes several key components aimed at de-escalating the conflict. The proposal specifically calls for:

• An immediate halt to fighting in Gaza.
• The release of all Israeli captives, both dead and alive, within a 72-hour timeframe.

This announcement has sparked extensive debate and criticism from various stakeholders in the region. Many Palestinian leaders believe that such proposals lack the necessary foundation for a genuine peace process and instead serve to entrench the existing power dynamics.

As the situation continues to evolve, the responses from Palestinian factions highlight a broader narrative of resistance against oppression and the struggle for self-determination. The implications of Trump’s peace plan, coupled with the ongoing violence in Gaza, raise critical questions about the future of peace efforts and the viability of a two-state solution.

In summary, the reaction of Palestinian factions to the US-Israeli peace plan reflects deep-seated grievances and a commitment to defending their rights and sovereignty. The ongoing dialogue around this issue is essential in understanding the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the quest for lasting peace in the region.