The proposal demands that Hamas effectively disarm in return for an end to Israel's genocidal war, humanitarian aid for Palestinians and the promise of reconstruction in Gaza — all desperately hoped for by the population in the devastated territory where the death toll in the Israeli war has topped 66,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
Meanwhile, backing and support were pouring in for the proposal from the international community.
Trump and Netanyahu said after talks on Monday in the White House that they had agreed on the plan.
Palestinians were entirely excluded from the drafting of the plan. Until its public announcement, none of the Palestinian factions or institutions had been approached or informed.
Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said earlier, “We have not received it, nor were we part of the negotiations, directly or indirectly.”
A Palestinian source close to Hamas told AFP on Tuesday that the group is reviewing US President Donald Trump's proposal for ending the Gaza war, which the Israeli prime minister backs.
"Hamas has begun a series of consultations within its political and military leaderships, both inside Palestine and abroad," the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
"The discussions could take several days due to the complexities of communication among leadership members and movements, especially after the Israeli aggression in Doha," the source added.
Another Palestinian source also confirmed that Hamas was examining Trump's plan.
The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of Israeli captives within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt's intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad "just met with Hamas negotiators and shared the 20-point plan. The Hamas negotiators said they would review it in good faith and provide a response," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In a video statement posted on his Telegram channel after his joint press conference with Trump, Netanyahu said the occupation army would stay in most of Gaza, and also said he did not agree to a Palestinian state during his talks with Trump.
'Full backing'
In Washington on Monday, Trump claimed that peace in the Middle East was "beyond very close" and described the announcement as a "beautiful day -- potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation".
His plan includes deployment of a "temporary international stabilisation force" -- and the creation of a transitional authority headed by Trump himself and including former British premier Tony Blair.
Blair, still widely hated in the Middle East for his role in the 2003 Iraq war, hailed the "bold and intelligent" plan.
The deal would demand Hamas be excluded from future roles in the government, but those who agreed to "peaceful co-existence" would be given amnesty.
During the press conference, Netanyahu cast doubt on whether the Palestinian Authority, which nominally runs the occupied West Bank, would be allowed a role in Gaza's governance.
Trump noted that during their meeting, Netanyahu had strongly opposed any Palestinian statehood -- something that the US plan leaves room for.
"I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims," Netanyahu said.
"If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself."
Trump said that Israel would have his "full backing" to do so if Hamas did not accept the deal.
Reaction was global and swift. Key Arab and Muslim nations, including mediators Egypt and Qatar, hailed the agreement's "sincere efforts" in the wake of their own talks with Trump last week.
Washington's European allies promptly voiced support, with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy sharing strong expressions of support for the plan.
And European Union chief Antonio Costa urged all parties to "seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance."
Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian resistance group fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza, on late Monday slammed US President Donald Trump's plan, saying it would fuel further aggression against Palestinians.
"It is a recipe for continued aggression against the Palestinian people. Through this, Israel is attempting - via the United States - to impose what it could not achieve through war," the group said in a statement. "Therefore, we consider the American-Israeli declaration a formula for igniting the region."
'Unrealistic'
But in Gaza, people expressed scepticism.
"It's clear that this plan is unrealistic", 39-year-old Ibrahim Joudeh told AFP from his shelter in the so-called humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi in south Gaza.
"It's drafted with conditions that the US and Israel know Hamas will never accept. For us, that means the war and the suffering will continue," said the computer programmer, originally from the southern city of Rafah, devastated by a military offensive that began in May.
Israeli air strikes and shelling continued across Gaza on Tuesday, according to the territory's civil defence agency and witnesses.
The Palestinian Authority, which is based in the West Bank but could be set for a role in a post-war Gaza government, welcomed Trump's "sincere and determined efforts."
Israel has killed 66,055 Palestinians in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, mostly children and women, according to health ministry figures that the United Nations considers reliable.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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