U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, giving the militant group “three or four days” to accept a White House–backed Gaza peace proposal or face what he warned could be a “very sad end.” Speaking as he departed the White House, Trump said all Arab and Muslim countries—as well as Israel—have already backed the plan, and “we’re just waiting for Hamas.” He added that there is “not much” room for negotiations and that the alternative to acceptance would carry serious consequences.
The plan in question is a 20-point framework co-endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and mediated by Qatar and Egypt, calling for an immediate ceasefire, full release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, disarmament of Hamas, and governance of Gaza by a technocratic transitional authority under international oversight. Trump and Netanyahu unveiled the proposal on Monday, portraying it as a path to end the nearly two-year conflict.
Hamas, excluded from the drafting process, said on Tuesday it would study the proposal before issuing a formal response. A senior Hamas official described the plan as “completely biased to Israel” and said it imposes “impossible conditions” designed to render the group powerless. The party’s internal deliberations are ongoing, with outside mediators—particularly Qatar and Egypt—urging a timely reply.
