US President Donald Trump has set a Sunday deadline for Hamas to agree to a deal to end the war in Gaza, warning “all hell” against the group if it does not accept the terms.
In a Truth Social post he said: “An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. 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.”
The president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled the 20-point proposal at the White House on Monday, but Hamas said it needed time to look at the details and consult with other Palestinian factions.
Israel has agreed to the terms, which include an immediate ceasefire; the release of all hostages; Hamas disarming; a guarantee no one will be forced to leave Gaza; and a governing “peace panel” including Sir Tony Blair.
Under the deal, Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from much of the territory, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow an influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction.
One Hamas leader, Mahmoud Mardawi, however, has been quoted in Middle Eastern outlets as saying the group will not agree a deal that does not include “self-determination for the Palestinian people”.
A Hamas official told Reuters “intensive discussion” about the proposed deal was “under way”. They said Hamas had held talks with Arab mediators, Turkey and Palestinian factions to shape “the Palestinian response”.
Mr Trump has struggled to force an end to the conflict, which began when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. His latest post on social media is another attempt to increase pressure on Hamas.
Donald Trump
He wrote in his post: “As retribution for the October 7th attack on civilization, more than 25,000 Hamas “soldiers” have already been killed. 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.”
Protests calling for the end of the war have taken place across the globe. Pic: AP
Listen: Will Trump’s Gaza plan leave eternal peace in the Middle East?
“I am asking that all innocent Palestinians immediately leave this area of potentially great future death for safer parts of Gaza. Everyone will be well cared for by those that are waiting to help. Fortunately for Hamas, however, they will be given one last chance! Great, powerful, and very rich Nations of the Middle East, and the surrounding areas beyond, together with the United States of America, have agreed, with Israel signing on, to PEACE, after 3000 years, in the Middle East.
“THIS DEAL ALSO SPARES THE LIVES OF ALL REMAINING HAMAS FIGHTERS! …We will have PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other. The violence and bloodshed will stop. RELEASES THE HOSTAGES, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT ARE DEAD, NOW!”
Hamas is believed to still hold 48 hostages – around 20 of them are believed to be alive.
Experts determined that Gaza City had slid into famine shortly before Israel launched a major offensive aimed at occupying it.
An estimated 400,000 people have fled the city in recent weeks, but hundreds of thousands more have stayed behind.
