Trump says Hamas response to Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal should come in 24 hours
Terror group said to show ‘flexibility’ on issue of disarmament, may agree to exile symbolic number of officials; says it will respond after talks with Gazan factions
US President Donald Trump on Friday said it will probably be known in 24 hours how Palestinian terror group Hamas will respond to a proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel.
Earlier reports indicated that Hamas would issue a formal response at some point on Friday, while the terror group said in a statement its official response would be given after consultations with all Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.
Trump also said Friday that Gazans have “been through hell,” dodging a reporter’s question about whether he still plans for the US to take over the Strip.
“I want the people of Gaza to be safe,” he answered.
The reporter was referring to the plan announced by Trump in February to take over the Strip and permanently relocate all Palestinians there, turning the land instead into a resort destination. While the plan was welcomed by the Israeli government, Arab countries fervently refused US and Israeli requests to take in Palestinians, arguing that Gazans should be allowed to remain on their land and warning that allowing such an initiative under these conditions will simply export the conflict into their borders.