Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a hardline ally of Hamas, has endorsed the militant group’s response to accept key aspects of President Donald Trump’s plan which could pave the way to the release of Israeli and Palestinian captives and end the ongoing war in Gaza.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment on Saturday.
Why It Matters
Israel began attacking Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel which killed 1,200 people. Of the 251 taken hostage that day by the Palestinian militant group, Israel says 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 67,000 people in Gaza, according to Gaza health authorities.
The Trump administration’s plan being accepted, at least in part, by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which also is holding hostages, has added to optimism that the end is in sight for the nearly two-year conflict.
What To Know
Hamas has partially accepted Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza which would see the release all hostages and possible further negotiations, though key issues like disarmament remain unresolved.
The plan calls for Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 Palestinians detained since the start of the war, in exchange for Hamas freeing 48 hostages, both dead and alive. In addition, Israel would gradually withdraw from Gaza as a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF), led by Arab partners, takes over security under the deal.
Trump called it “potentially one of the great days ever in civilization” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he backed the plan and would need a formal Cabinet vote as he faces international pressure to end the war.
All eyes were on the reaction from Hamas and after the group accepted some elements of the plan, Trump ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza, saying in a statement, “I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE.”
After rejecting the proposal only days earlier, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful militant group in Gaza, said it accepted Hamas’ response to the Trump plan.
It said in a statement that Hamas’ reaction represented the position of the Palestinian resistance factions and had participated in talks that led to this decision, Reuters reported on Saturday.
The diplomatic optimism comes amid the urgency of ending the grave humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold in the region. In comments provided to Newsweek, one Mercy Corps aid worker in Gaza said the entire strip faces mass starvation and famine with most families eating at most one meal a day, and parents sacrificing their food for their children.
Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, said in a statement to Newsweek that “every day, people in Gaza are dying from bombardment, hunger, and disease while the world watches” and called for international community and all parties in the conflict to urgently secure an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
In comments emailed to Newsweek on Friday night before the statement by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Jennifer Gavito, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said that Hamas’ statement of support was a positive development although one which is likely “to expose all sides’ intentions and constraints.”
Peace negotiations are likely to be fraught and sticking points will include the nature of a proposed postwar international security force and who would participate, she said. Some Arab countries have already made clear their participation is contingent on a clear Israeli commitment to Palestinian sovereignty and a return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, which right-wing members of Netanyahu’s coalition are likely to block, Gavito added.
What People Are Saying
Palestinian Islamic Jihad in a statement, per Reuters: “Hamas’ (reaction) to Trump’s plan represents the position of the Palestinian resistance factions, and the Islamic Jihad participated responsibly in the consultations that led to this decision.”
Jerusalem resident Jamal Shihad, cited by Reuters: “What is important is that Netanyahu does not sabotage this, because now that Hamas agreed, Netanyahu will disagree, as he usually does.”
Jennifer Gavito, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Newsweek: “Some Arab countries have already made clear their participation is contingent on a clear Israeli commitment to Palestinian sovereignty and a return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza.”
Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, told Newsweek: “Those who have endured unrelenting suffering over the past two years deserve more than symbolic gestures—they need concrete action now to give them a chance to survive rebuild their lives and recover hope for the future.”
What Happens Next?
Israel’s army said Saturday it would advance preparations for the first phase of Trump’s plan and had moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike, the Associated Press reported.
The agency also said a senior Egyptian official said talks are underway for the release of hostages, and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention while Arab mediators prepare for dialogue among Palestinians over Gaza’s future.