Reports suggesting Hamas partially accepted the Trump administration’s 2020 Middle East peace plan originated from a satirical video, not a factual development. In reality, Hamas, like other Palestinian factions, unequivocally rejected the controversial “Deal
Reports of Hamas Partially Accepting Trump’s Peace Plan Originated in Satirical Context
In early 2020, following the unveiling of the Trump administration’s “Deal of the Century” Middle East peace plan, a New York Times video circulated with the title “Hamas Partially Accepts Trump’s Peace Plan.” However, the video was explicitly satirical, intended to highlight the perceived absurdity or irony of the highly controversial proposal rather than to report a factual development.
The Trump peace plan, formally introduced on January 28, 2020, by then-President Donald Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, proposed a framework for peace that was widely viewed as heavily favoring Israel. Key elements included the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital, the annexation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state with limited sovereignty and no control over its borders or airspace. It also envisioned a capital for Palestinians in East Jerusalem neighborhoods outside Israel’s security barrier.
Contrary to the satirical suggestion, Hamas, the Islamist militant group governing the Gaza Strip, unequivocally rejected the Trump plan. Their stance aligned with the broader Palestinian consensus, which denounced the proposal as a “conspiracy” and a “slap of the century.”
“This plan is aggressive and it aims to liquidate the Palestinian national project,” Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, stated at the time. “The plan announced by Trump in Washington is doomed to fail.”
Hamas, along with other Palestinian factions, argued that the plan disregarded international law, denied Palestinians their legitimate rights to self-determination, statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return for refugees. Mass protests erupted across the Palestinian territories in response to the plan’s announcement.
The New York Times video, published on January 29, 2020, utilized humor and exaggeration to comment on the political landscape surrounding the peace proposal. It comically depicted Hamas finding “good” aspects in a plan that was otherwise universally condemned by Palestinian leadership, such as continued funding for the Palestinian Authority (which could indirectly benefit them) or access to a new beach. This satirical approach underscored the deeply entrenched disagreements and the unlikelihood of any such acceptance.
Ultimately, the Trump administration’s peace plan was rejected by Palestinian leaders, the Arab League, and drew criticism from numerous international bodies and countries for its lack of balance and disregard for established parameters for a two-state solution.
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