U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Hamas three to four days to accept a U.S.-backed peace proposal for Gaza, warning of “a very sad end” if the group rejected the plan, which he said had the potential to end the war that has raged for nearly two years.
The 20-point plan, drawn up with mediation from Qatar and Egypt and unveiled after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared with Trump at the White House, calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and the creation of a transitional government led by an international body.
“Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end,” Trump told reporters. He stressed that Israeli and Arab leaders had endorsed the plan, leaving Hamas as the sole holdout. Asked if there was room for further negotiations, he replied, “Not much.”
Hamas, excluded from the drafting process, signaled it would review the proposal “in good faith,” but officials privately dismissed it as “completely biased to Israel” and an attempt to eliminate the group.
Disarmament has long been a red line for Hamas, which insists on a full Israeli withdrawal in return for hostages.
The group faces mounting pressure, however, as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt all welcomed the initiative. Turkey’s intelligence chief was set to join mediators in Doha for further talks, marking Ankara’s first direct involvement in the peace process.
For Netanyahu, the plan presents both an opportunity and a risk. While he initially endorsed the proposal, he has voiced skepticism over provisions hinting at eventual Palestinian statehood, a concept he has consistently rejected.
The Israeli leader is under growing pressure at home from citizens weary of the war but also risks losing his far-right coalition if concessions are seen as excessive.
Inside Gaza, reactions were mixed. “We want the war to end, but we want the occupation army that killed tens of thousands of us to get out and leave us alone,” said Salah Abu Amr, 60, from Gaza City.
Others voiced doubts over whether either Trump or Netanyahu could be trusted to deliver lasting peace.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces pressed deeper into central Gaza City on Tuesday, which Netanyahu has called Hamas’s final stronghold.
Airplanes dropped leaflets urging civilians to evacuate south, warning: “The battle against Hamas is decisive and will not end until it is defeated.”
The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, has since claimed the lives of more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Whether Trump’s deadline can force a breakthrough in peace talks remains uncertain as both sides weigh the heavy cost of war.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
