Trump issues Sunday ultimatum for Hamas to accept Gaza plan

BREAKINGBREAKING,

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.

He warned an agreement must be reached by 6pm US Eastern time (22: 00 GMT) on Sunday, or else Gaza would face further violence.

“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”, Trump wrote.

The Trump administration had discussed the peace plan with a group of Arab and Muslim leaders in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Then, on Monday, as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a fourth visit to the White House, he unveiled the full text of the plan.

It does not include a pathway to Palestinian statehood, a major point of contention. And it makes few demands of Israel, whose military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 66, 000 Palestinians, many of them women and children.

An independent UN commission in September determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to the crime of genocide, confirming similar reports from human rights observers.

But the outline does set forth a plan to “redevelop” Gaza into a “deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours”. It also calls on Hamas to “agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form”.

In exchange, aid will be allowed into Gaza, where famine has been declared for half a million people. An Israeli blockade has prevented adequate resources from reaching civilians, heightening the hunger crisis.

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 Gazans who were detained after the start of the war in October 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.

Trump repeatedly referred to the proposal as Hamas’ “last chance” to negotiate in Friday’s social media post. Hamas would suffer significant losses if it refused to acquiesce, he also reiterated his warnings.

More than 25, 000 Hamas “soldiers” have already been killed, according to Trump, in retribution for the October 7th attack on civilization. The majority of the rest are surrounded and militarily repressed, waiting for me to declare, “GO,” so that their lives can be quickly saved.

We are aware of where and who you are, and you will be hunted down and killed, as for the rest.