Former U.S. President Donald Trump is heavily focused on resolving the Gaza conflict and is issuing repeated warnings to Hamas. With a critical meeting scheduled for Monday in Egypt, involving representatives from Hamas, Israel, and the United States to address a ceasefire, Trump is urging all participants to expedite the negotiations.
Trump demanded that negotiators ‘move fast’ to end the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza. The meeting is scheduled in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Reports suggest positive reactions to Trump’s peace proposal from both Hamas and Israel. On his Truth Social platform, Trump shared news of very positive discussions this week with Hamas and international stakeholders. These discussions centered on the release of hostages, ending the war in Gaza, and establishing enduring Middle East peace. He highlighted the successful and rapid progress of these talks. Technical teams are set to meet in Egypt on Monday to conclude and clarify outstanding details. Trump stressed the need for swift action, emphasizing the crucial timing. He warned that failure to act could result in bloodshed.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader, led a delegation to Egypt on Sunday for indirect talks with Israel. The aim is to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and reach an agreement for the release of hostages. A senior Hamas official conveyed the organization’s eagerness to end the war and start the process of releasing prisoners based on the current situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism that hostages could be released within the next few days.
Trump previously urged Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza. Despite this, attacks continued. On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appealed to Israel to stop bombing Gaza, as releasing hostages during ongoing bombings is not feasible. However, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense Agency, at least 20 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday.
Trump had earlier set a deadline for Hamas to accept the peace plan by 6 p.m. on Sunday, threatening that failure to do so would lead to severe repercussions.