Trump Issues Hamas Ultimatum: Accept Gaza Peace Plan by Sunday or Face Escalation
WASHINGTON D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has set a Sunday deadline for Hamas to accept a proposed peace plan for Gaza, warning of severe consequences if the group fails to comply. In a post on his Truth Social platform Friday, Trump stated an agreement must be reached by 6:00 PM Washington time (10:00 PM GMT) on Sunday, threatening that “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.”
The plan, reportedly agreed upon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced Monday at the White House, calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all 48 hostages held by Hamas - including the remains of those believed to be deceased – within 72 hours, in exchange for the release of hundreds of detained Gazans. Approximately 20 of the hostages are believed to be still alive.
Mediators from Arab nations and Turkey are reportedly urging Hamas to accept the proposal. However, sources indicate a senior figure within Hamas’s military wing in Gaza has signaled a likely rejection. While some Hamas political leaders in Qatar are believed to be open to accepting the plan with modifications, their influence is limited due to a lack of direct control over the hostages. A key sticking point for some within Hamas is the requirement to release all hostages upfront, effectively relinquishing their primary leverage in negotiations.
The 20-point plan also stipulates that Hamas will have no role in governing gaza and leaves open the possibility of a future Palestinian state. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu afterward reaffirmed his opposition to a Palestinian state, clarifying in a video statement that the agreement does not mandate one, stating, “It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state.”
Trump has stated that Israel would have full U.S. backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas” should the group reject the plan. Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, asserting Israel “will finish the job” if Hamas declines the proposal or fails to adhere to its terms.
The current conflict began following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, wich resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. Since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 66,288 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations.
