Washington: US President Donald Trump has thrown down the gauntlet to Hamas, giving the ‘militant’ group a strict deadline of Sunday, 6 pm Washington, D.C. time to accept his proposed Middle East peace deal. Failure to comply, he warned, would unleash consequences “like no one has ever seen before.”
In a forceful message posted on Truth Social, Trump declared: “An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time,” Trump wrote Friday 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.” It comes after Trump said on Tuesday that he was giving Hamas “three to four days” to respond to the peace plan.
He reinforced his determination to resolve the conflict, adding: “There will be peace in the Middle East one way or other.” Trump also appealed to civilians in Gaza, urging them to move to safer areas ahead of potential escalation. “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 … Fortunately for Hamas, however, they will be given one last chance!”
Trump insisted that the peace plan — drafted with support from world leaders — represents a fair outcome for all sides. “This deal also spares the lives of all remaining Hamas Fighters … The details of the document are known to the world, and it is a great one for all!”
The proposal, announced earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for Hamas to disarm and release all hostages, including the remains of those killed. Under the deal, Gaza would be placed under a temporary governing committee led by Trump himself, with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair also involved.
Civilians, however, would not be forced to evacuate. Netanyahu has publicly backed Trump’s framework, but Hamas has so far rejected it. Trump has coupled his ultimatum with a demand that the group free all hostages immediately.
The warning carries added weight as it comes nearly a year after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, which plunged the region into a cycle of bloodshed and destruction. By drawing a sharp deadline, Trump has signaled that the US is prepared to act decisively if Hamas refuses. According to reports, mediators had made contact with the head of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza. But the head reportedly indicated that he does not agree to the new US ceasefire plan.
Some of Hamas’s political leadership in Qatar are open to accepting it with adjustments – but have found their influence limited as they do not have control of the hostages held by the group, reported the BBC. The 20-point plan, agreed by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced by both at the White House on Monday, states that Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza. It leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.
However, Netanyahu later said in a video statement: “It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state.”
