US President Donald Trump has set a stark ultimatum for Hamas, warning that the Palestinian group must accept a US-brokered peace plan for Gaza by Sunday evening or face “all hell.”
The deadline, announced on Friday through Trump’s Truth Social account, adds urgency to a 20-point proposal co-developed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The plan demands an immediate halt to hostilities and the release of 20 surviving Israeli hostages, as well as the remains of others believed dead, within 72 hours. In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian detainees and allow large-scale humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
Trump’s Ultimatum and Mediator Efforts
Trump wrote that “if this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.” He insisted that “there will be peace in the Middle East one way or the other.”
Arab and Turkish mediators have been pressing Hamas for a favorable response. However, reports suggest the group remains deeply divided. A senior Hamas figure has already indicated the organization is likely to reject the offer.
Contacts with the head of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza show strong opposition to the terms, particularly the requirement to surrender all hostages at once. Hamas’s political leaders in Qatar, who have limited influence over the captors, have reportedly shown more openness to negotiations, albeit with proposed adjustments.
Details of the Peace Plan
The plan, announced Monday at the White House, outlines not only a temporary ceasefire but also a post-war framework for Gaza. A “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” would govern the enclave under supervision of an international “Board of Peace,” to be headed by Trump himself. While the agreement leaves open the possibility of a future Palestinian state, Netanyahu reaffirmed his opposition soon after, declaring: “It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state.”
Despite this, the Palestinian Authority (PA) cautiously welcomed Trump’s efforts as “sincere and determined.” Several European and Middle Eastern leaders also endorsed the proposal. Pakistan initially supported the plan but later voiced reservations, saying it diverged from a draft supported by Muslim-majority nations.
Humanitarian Concerns and Gaza Offensive
The ultimatum comes amid escalating Israeli military operations. Israel’s defense minister declared forces were “tightening the siege” on Gaza City this week as airstrikes and ground assaults continued. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 66,288 people have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023, when Hamas’s cross-border attack left about 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage.
On Thursday alone, 63 more Palestinians were reported killed. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, with Israeli authorities designating al-Mawasi in southern Gaza as a “humanitarian area.” Yet aid workers have denounced this designation. James Elder, spokesperson for UNICEF, called it “farcical,” noting that bombs regularly hit schools and shelters: “Bombs are dropped from the sky with chilling predictability. Schools, which have been designated as temporary shelters, are regularly reduced to rubble.”
A Narrowing Window for Peace
The immediate sticking point remains Hamas’s unwillingness to release all hostages up front, a move that would strip the group of its most powerful bargaining tool. Of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, only 20 are believed to be alive. Israel has insisted that securing their release is central to the ongoing offensive. Netanyahu, echoing Trump, vowed that Israel “will finish the job” if Hamas rejects the deal.
The standoff underscores the fragility of Trump’s peace push. While hailed abroad as a potential breakthrough, the plan risks collapse within days, leaving Gaza bracing for an even more ferocious stage of the war.
