Hamas will likely reject US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan that would end the war in Gaza and see the release of the remaining 48 hostages, a senior official of the terrorist organization told the BBC on Wednesday.
The British public-service broadcaster cited the official saying that the plan "serves Israel's interests" and "ignores those of the Palestinian people."
The official added that Hamas also refuses to disarm and surrender its weapons. It also rejects any presence of an "International Stabilization Force" in the Gaza Strip, both of which are conditions in Trump's plan, the BBC noted.
The report comes in contrast with a Tuesday CBS report, citing an informed source, saying that Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups are leaning toward accepting Trump's proposal.
The terrorist organization had not given an official response to the proposal, but was reviewing it "responsibly," the CBS report stated. The BBC report noted that a Palestinian official had said that it is being examined by Hamas leadership both inside and outside of Gaza.
Another condition that Hamas reportedly rejects is releasing the remaining hostages at once, which the BBC describes as them letting go of their only "bargaining chip."
This comes after Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesman Mohammed al-Haj Musa told Ultra Palestine on Tuesday evening that Hamas was set to meet with other Palestinian groups to discuss their response to the plan.
The proposal “does not pertain to Hamas alone, but rather to the entire Palestinian people,” Musa told the Palestinian outlet. “Therefore, all factions are required to participate in formulating a unified national response to it.”
The PIJ spokesperson added that the Palestinian Authority was in a politically precarious position, and called on it to engage with the Palestinian groups on the proposal, discussing it point by point, to come up with a unified response.
Qatar, Egypt, Turkey urge Hamas to accept Trump's 20-point plan
Separately, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt have urged the Hamas terrorist organization to accept the peace plan, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two sources with knowledge of the talks.
Officials from each of those countries have met with Hamas leaders for talks since Tuesday, the report added.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also reportedly told Hamas leaders that "this was the best deal he was able to get for them and it won't get much better."
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously agreed to the plan on Monday, following a meeting between the two leaders at the White House.
Israel has full US backing to finish Hamas if terror group rejects deal
"Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas," Trump said at a press conference after the meeting. "But I hope we’re going to have a deal for peace. If Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible — they’re the only ones left. Everyone else has accepted it. But I have a feeling that we’re going to have a positive answer. But if not, as you know, Bibi, you’d have our full backing to do what you would have to do."
Trump added that the US would be involved in Israel's security after the ceasefire agreement.
In addition to Hamas, many anti-Israel and Western activists have also rejected Trump's plan, claiming that the proposal to end the war is an emblem of surrender, colonialism, and ethnic cleansing.
Corinne Baum, James Genn, and Michael Starr contributed to this report.