Trump issues Sunday ultimatum for Hamas to accept Gaza plan
United States President Donald Trump has issued a weekend ultimatum for Hamas to accept his 20-point plan for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel’s war on the territory grinds on.
On Friday, the Republican leader took to his social media platform Truth Social to denounce Hamas as a “ruthless and violent threat” and to pressure it to accept his proposal.
United States President Donald Trump has issued a weekend ultimatum for Hamas to accept his 20-point plan for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel’s war on the territory grinds on.
On Friday, the Republican leader took to his social media platform Truth Social to denounce Hamas as a “ruthless and violent threat” and to pressure it to accept his proposal.
The plan also calls for Hamas to release Israeli captives and the bodies of those who died. Israel, in return, will release the 1,170 Palestinians from Gaza who were detained after the start of the war on October 7, 2023, plus 250 people sentenced to life imprisonment.
The plan also calls for the establishment of a “Board of Peace”, led by Trump himself and helmed by other heads of state, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as a temporary governance structure.
A separate “International Stabilisation Force” would be put in place to bolster Palestinian police and work with Israeli and Egyptian border agents.
A ‘last chance’ for Hamas?
In Friday’s social media post, Trump repeatedly called the proposal Hamas’s “last chance” to come to the bargaining table. He also reiterated warnings that Hamas would face heavy losses should it fail to acquiesce.
“As retribution for the October 7th attack on civilization, more than 25,000 Hamas ‘soldiers’ have already been killed,” Trump wrote, citing unsubstantiated numbers. “Most of the rest are surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED, just waiting for me to give the word, ‘GO,’ for their lives to be quickly extinguished.”
“As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed.”
In apparent anticipation of further violence, Trump’s message also included an appeal for civilians to relocate to safety, though it was unclear where he hoped they would move.
“I am asking that all innocent Palestinians immediately leave this area of potentially great future death for safer parts of Gaza,” Trump wrote. “Everyone will be well cared for by those that are waiting to help.”
The statement echoed remarks Trump had made earlier in the week, in his meeting with Netanyahu.
At their joint news conference, Trump made it plain that the US would support Israel in its attacks on Hamas, should the deal fail to be accepted.
“Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas,” Trump told reporters.
Friday’s post, however, is not the first time Trump has set a deadline for the release of Israeli captives and the implementation of a ceasefire. In February, for instance, Trump warned he would “let hell break out” if the captives were not released.
Israel ultimately let the ceasefire negotiations expire a few weeks later, on March 1, and it soon thereafter resumed its bombing campaign in Gaza.
