Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, giving the group until Sunday at 6:00 PM Washington time (22:00 GMT) to accept a new U.S.-backed peace proposal for Gaza or face severe military consequences.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump declared:
“If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.”
Details of the Peace Proposal
The plan includes:
An immediate halt to all fighting in Gaza.
The release of 20 living Israeli hostages within 72 hours.
The handover of the remains of deceased hostages.
In exchange, hundreds of Palestinian detainees would be released from Israeli prisons.
According to diplomatic sources, Arab and Turkish mediators are actively pushing Hamas to accept the deal. However, internal divisions within Hamas appear to be complicating the decision.
Hamas Response Uncertain
A senior Hamas figure has reportedly signaled that the group is likely to reject the proposal. The military wing of Hamas in Gaza, led by figures still operating on the ground, is said to oppose the deal. Mediators have made direct contact with the head of the military wing, who has thus far resisted the plan.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s political leadership, based in Qatar, is believed to be more open to the agreement—though they reportedly lack control over the hostages, making enforcement of the deal difficult.
One key sticking point is the requirement that all hostages be released within the first 72 hours of the ceasefire. Some within Hamas fear this would mean relinquishing their last major bargaining chip too quickly.
Hostage and Casualty Figures
As of now, it is believed that 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with only 20 confirmed to be alive. These hostages were captured during the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
In response, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory, over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since then.
What Comes Next?
With Trump’s deadline looming, pressure is mounting on Hamas to respond. If the deal is not accepted, Trump has vowed an escalation unlike any before.
The international community, including regional powers, continues to watch developments closely as Sunday’s deadline approaches.
