Hamas has praised US President Donald Trump for what appears to be a reversal of his previous stance on the permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, urging Washington to ensure Israel upholds ceasefire agreements.
“If President Trump’s remarks indicate a withdrawal from any plans to displace the people of Gaza, we welcome them,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated on Wednesday.
He further called on the United States to reinforce this position by compelling Israel to comply with all ceasefire terms.
Qassem’s statement followed Trump’s remarks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the White House, where the US president clarified, “Nobody is expelling any Palestinians from Gaza.” This shift marks a departure from Trump’s earlier proposals, which included the idea of a US-administered Gaza and the relocation of its Palestinian population to neighboring countries.
Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
The change in stance coincides with growing diplomatic initiatives to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and reconstruction efforts. On Wednesday, Arab foreign ministers convened in Qatar with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss post-war rebuilding plans.
According to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting included ministers from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
“The ministers discussed the Gaza reconstruction plan, which was approved during the Arab League Summit in Cairo on March 4, 2025,” the ministry’s statement said. Discussions also covered continued collaboration with the US on Gaza’s rebuilding efforts.
Ceasefire Negotiations Resume
Efforts to secure a long-term ceasefire have gained traction, with a new round of negotiations commencing in Doha on Tuesday.
Sources indicate that direct discussions between Hamas and US officials have taken place in the Qatari capital, marking a rare shift from Washington’s traditional policy of avoiding engagement with groups it classifies as terrorist organizations.
Taher al-Nono, a political adviser to Hamas leadership, confirmed that negotiations included discussions on the release of an American-Israeli dual national held in Gaza and a phased approach to implementing the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
A Hamas delegation also recently met with Egyptian mediators, reiterating its commitment to negotiating the next phase of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel has sent its own representatives to Doha for the ongoing talks.
The initial 42-day ceasefire phase expired earlier this month without an agreement on further steps. Since then, Israel has maintained a full blockade on Gaza for the past 12 days, restricting essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicine—a move widely condemned as collective punishment.
Meanwhile, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has formally endorsed an Egyptian-led initiative for Gaza’s reconstruction, proposing that the process be overseen by the Palestinian Authority.
