Listeners:
Top listeners:
play_arrow

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – A senior Hamas official told the BBC on Wednesday that the group is likely to reject U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly unveiled 20-point ceasefire and peace proposal for Gaza, saying the package “serves Israel’s interests” and “ignores those of the Palestinian people.”
According to the BBC, the official rejected core conditions in the plan, including a requirement that Hamas disarm and hand over its weapons and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in the Gaza Strip — which Hamas regards as a new form of occupation. The official also said Hamas would be unlikely to accept an immediate release of the remaining hostages, which the BBC described as the group’s principal bargaining chip.
President Trump presented the plan at a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and warned Hamas it had “three or four days” to accept. Trump declared that if Hamas refuses, it would “pay in hell.” He told Netanyahu that Israel would have full U.S. backing to continue operations in Gaza and “finish the job” of destroying Hamas if the group rejects the proposal. Netanyahu echoed the warning, saying Hamas could choose the “easy way or hard way” going forward.
Adding to the pressure, the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) also denounced the U.S. proposal. PIJ Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah said the plan was a “formula for perpetuating Israeli aggression against the Palestinian nation.” He accused Israel of attempting, with U.S. support, to enforce by diplomacy what it could not achieve through military action. “Consequently, we view the U.S.-Israeli declaration as a catalyst for escalating conflict in the region,” al-Nakhalah said in a statement.
Two Trump administration sources told i24NEWS that the plan is not open to renegotiation: technical clarifications may be discussed, but rejection of the substance of the 20 points would be treated as rejection of the entire package. That posture is intended to force a swift yes-or-no response from Hamas, officials said.
The BBC’s reporting that Hamas is likely to refuse contrasts with earlier accounts from other outlets suggesting a more mixed reaction: a CBS report cited sources saying Hamas and other Palestinian factions were reviewing the proposal “responsibly” and weighing their response. Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups were reported to be consulting with Hamas as part of efforts to reach a unified national reply.
Qatar, Egypt and Turkey have urged Hamas to accept the plan, Axios reported, with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani telling Hamas leaders he had secured the best deal he could and warned it would not improve. Palestinian voices called for all factions and the Palestinian Authority to cooperate on a collective response, saying the proposal affects the wider Palestinian people, not just one group.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
A Dutch community remained in shock Saturday after a 13-year-old girl was detained following the discovery of her parents’ bodies in their home in the northern Netherlands.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a 90-day state of emergency Saturday, empowering the military to clear road blockades after nearly 50 days of anti-government protests that have included widespread road blockades, leaving at least 14 people dead and crippling the nation’s economy.
A powerful thunderstorm system sweeping across Western Europe killed at least one person in the Netherlands, injured several others in Belgium and Germany, and caused widespread damage as nearly 190,000 lightning flashes illuminated the skies, authorities said Saturday.
Israeli strikes killed at least 10 people in Lebanon on Saturday despite a ceasefire that took effect hours earlier, officials said, with Israel claiming it was responding to attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.
At least 10 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said Friday. In southern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in a separate Russian attack on the Odesa region.
President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
Copyright The New Jerusalem Media.