Trump Sets Sunday Deadline for Hamas to Accept Bold Gaza Peace Proposal

US President Donald Trump has issued a harsh ultimatum to Hamas: accept a new US peace plan for Gaza by Sunday evening, or face severe consequences. He shared this on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that this is a crucial moment for peace.

The proposed plan aims for an immediate ceasefire and demands the release of 20 living Israeli hostages within 72 hours, along with the remains of others, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel. Arab and Turkish mediators are urging Hamas to respond positively, but a senior Hamas figure has suggested that the group may turn it down.

Trump warned that failure to agree could lead to unprecedented violence against Hamas. “There will be peace in the Middle East one way or the other,” he declared on social media.

Internal discussions within Hamas are complicated. While some leaders in Qatar are open to accepting the plan with changes, they lack direct control over the hostages. This puts them in a tough spot; the plan requires immediate release of hostages, which means they would lose their leverage.

Currently, around 48 hostages are believed to be held by Hamas, with only 20 thought to be alive. The stakes are high. Since the violent escalation that began on October 7, which saw the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel and the capture of hostages, Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in at least 66,288 deaths, according to reports from the territory’s health ministry.

This situation reflects a long-standing conflict. Similar negotiations have happened in the past without lasting success, showing the complexity of achieving peace in the region. Experts point out that without genuine dialogue and compromise, these patterns are likely to repeat.

Hamas’s military leadership has signaled resistance to the new ceasefire plan. As mediators step in, the world watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that has eluded so many before.

For more on the ongoing situation, you can refer to this report by the BBC.

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