Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip): US President Donald Trump on Friday issued an ultimatum to Hamas, stating that the group must accept a proposed peace deal by Sunday evening or face a potentially unprecedented military response, nearly two years after the October 7 attack on Israel.
Trump appears determined to fulfill his promises to end the conflict and secure the release of dozens of hostages ahead of the attack’s second anniversary on Tuesday. While Israel has endorsed the plan and it has received international support, key mediators—including Egypt, Qatar, and at least one Hamas official—have indicated that certain aspects require further negotiation, without providing details.
“An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time,” Trump wrote on social media. “Every Country has signed on! 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.”
Key elements of Trump’s plan
Unveiled earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the plan calls for Hamas to immediately release the remaining 48 hostages, approximately 20 of whom are believed to be alive. The group would also relinquish power and disarm.
In return, Israel would halt its offensive, withdraw from much of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and allow a flow of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction. Plans to relocate Gaza’s population abroad would be suspended.
The roughly 2 million residents of Gaza would come under international governance, with Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing the administration. However, the plan does not provide a framework for reunification with the Israeli-occupied West Bank or the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
A Hamas official told The Associated Press that certain aspects of the proposal are unacceptable and require amendments, without elaborating. While Palestinians widely desire an end to the war, many see this and previous US initiatives as heavily favoring Israel.
Pressure on Hamas
Since ending a ceasefire in March, Israel has intensified pressure on Hamas, sealing Gaza off from food, medicine, and other supplies for over two months, while seizing and flattening large areas of the territory. Experts reported that Gaza City was on the brink of famine just prior to Israel’s major offensive.
An estimated 400,000 people have fled Gaza City in recent weeks, though hundreds of thousands remain. Olga Cherevko, a UN humanitarian spokesperson, observed several displaced families taking shelter in the parking lot of Shifa Hospital during a visit on Thursday.
