US President Donald Trump Sets Sunday Deadline for Hamas to Endorse Gazan Agreement
US President Trump has issued a ultimatum to Hamas, demanding them to approve a American ceasefire agreement for the Gaza region or confront severe repercussions.
Via a post on his Truth Social account on the end of the week, Trump announced that an agreement must be reached by Sunday evening (10 PM GMT) on Sunday.
This outlined proposal includes an immediate end to conflict and the return within 72 hours of 20 living Israel hostages kept by Hamas—along with the remnants of individuals believed to be deceased—in exchange for many of arrested Gazans.
International negotiators are believed to be pressing Hamas for a favorable answer to the plan, but a senior Hamas figure has indicated that the militant group is probable to decline it.
"If this FINAL agreement is not secured, extreme consequences, as nobody has before witnessed, will occur against the group. WE WILL ENSURE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST NO MATTER WHAT," Trump stated in the online message.
Negotiators have made contact with the chief of Hamas's military wing in the territory, who has suggested that he does not agree to the new American ceasefire plan, based on reports.
It is thought that a portion of the group's leadership in the Gulf state are open to agreeing to the agreement with adjustments—but have realized their influence constrained as they lack authority over the hostages kept by the organization.
Another obstacle for certain in Hamas is that the plan requires them to release all the captives over the initial three-day period of the ceasefire—surrendering their only negotiating tool.
It is estimated to be 48 detainees presently being kept in the Gazan region by the armed group, just 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
The Israeli army launched a offensive in Gaza in reaction to the Hamas-initiated assault on the region on 7 October 2023, in which approximately twelve hundred civilians were lost their lives and 251 others were captured.
At least 66,288 residents have been fatally injured in Israeli operations in Gaza following the start, according to the territory's Hamas-controlled health authority.