Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a final warning to Hamas, emphasizing the need for immediate action regarding the peace settlement in Gaza. Trump declared that delays would not be tolerated, and the failure to act would render all prior efforts useless. He demanded a swift resolution, ensuring justice for all parties, and insisted on an immediate decision from Hamas, threatening that non-compliance would invalidate all existing conditions.
Trump acknowledged and appreciated Israel’s temporary cessation of bombing to facilitate the release of hostages and the potential for a peace agreement. He warned Hamas to either disarm or halt its military actions, assuring that the accord would include stipulations for both Israel and Hamas.
Earlier, Trump had stated that Hamas had until Sunday at 6 p.m. to accept the proposed peace agreement for the Gaza Strip, or face intensified attacks. Trump is committed to fulfilling his pledge to end the conflict and secure the release of dozens of hostages before the second anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7th.
The plan presented by the former U.S. President for peace in Gaza has been welcomed by Israel and garnered international support. However, key mediators like Egypt and Qatar, along with a senior Hamas leader, have indicated that further discussions are needed on certain aspects, without specifying those aspects.
In a social media post, Trump affirmed that every country has endorsed the plan, and that if this final opportunity fails, Hamas will face consequences like never before. He reiterated his commitment to establishing peace in the West Asia region.
Following Trump’s statement, Hamas accepted some aspects of the American plan to end the war in Gaza, which led Trump to order Israel to halt its bombing. Hamas said it would release hostages and transfer control to other Palestinians, although further discussions on specific points of the plan will take place among Palestinians. Senior Hamas officials noted some key disagreements that necessitated detailed negotiations.
After Hamas accepted certain aspects of the American plan to end the war in Gaza, the Israeli military announced on Saturday that it would intensify preparations for the initial phase of the plan. The military said Israeli leaders had instructed them to accelerate the implementation of the plan. An official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that Israel had adopted a defensive stance in Gaza and would not initiate any attacks. The official also confirmed that no security forces had been withdrawn from Gaza.