United States President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas to accept the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Trump, speaking on Tuesday, warned the militant group to accept the Gaza ceasefire deal within three to four days or face severe consequences.
According to the U.S. President, the consequences will include full U.S. backing for Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza.
“We’re going to do about three or four days,” Trump told reporters when asked about any timeframe.
“We’re just waiting for Hamas, and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not. And if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end.”
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Trump’s ultimatum to Hama came a day after he unveiled a 20-point peace plan during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump, in the peace plan proposed immediate hostage releases, demilitarization, and international oversight to rebuild the war-torn enclave.
Core provisions include:
Hostage and Prisoner Exchange: “Hamas must release all remaining 48 hostages—believed to include only about 20 still alive—within 72 hours of acceptance. In return, Israel would free 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023, including all women and children. For every Israeli hostage returned, Israel commits to releasing the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.”
Demilitarization and Governance Shift: “Hamas would lay down arms, renounce governance, and grant amnesty to members pledging peaceful coexistence, with safe passage options to other countries. A transitional “Board of Peace”—chaired by figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair—would oversee Gaza’s administration until the reformed Palestinian Authority assumes control.”
Security and Reconstruction Guarantees: “Israel would gradually withdraw forces while retaining a perimeter presence until threats subside. Regional partners, including Qatar and Egypt, would guarantee compliance, while scaled-up aid and economic redevelopment aim to foster a “prosperous” Gaza committed to neighborly peace. Notably, the plan rejects forced displacements, allowing free movement for residents who choose to leave or return.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a Palestinian source said on condition of anonymity that Hamas had begun consultations on the Gaza ceasefire deal “within its political and military leaderships, both inside Palestine and abroad”.
“The discussions could take several days due to the complexities,” the source said.
Qatar, which hosts Hamas’s exiled leadership, has also said the group had promised to study the proposal “responsibly”, and also said it would hold a meeting with Hamas and Turkey later on Tuesday.
“It is still too early to speak about responses, but we are truly optimistic that this plan, as we said, is a comprehensive one,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said.
Also, the reaction to the Gaza ceasefire deal has been 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, while China and Russia also declared their backing.
Recall that the Gaza war was triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s offensive has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed 66,055 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
