Trump Issues Ultimatum to Hamas with Deadline for Gaza Peace Plan

Fri Oct 03 2025 20:53:37 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

President Donald Trump has set a Sunday deadline for Hamas to accept a proposed peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing violence in Gaza. The plan includes conditions that may prove challenging for the militant group.

In a recent statement via Truth Social, US President Donald Trump laid down a deadline for Hamas to accept a peace plan for Gaza by Sunday or face dire consequences. The proposed 20-point plan, designed to stop hostilities and facilitate the release of hostages, faces skepticism from Hamas leaders, complicating the prospects for resolution. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has signaled strong support for the proposal, further escalating tensions in the region.

US President Donald Trump has given Hamas a deadline to accept a US peace plan for Gaza or face all hell. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday that an agreement must be reached by 18:00 Washington time (22:00 GMT) on Sunday.

The plan proposes an immediate end to fighting and the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas—alongside the remains of hostages thought to be dead—in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.

Arab and Turkish mediators are understood to be pressing Hamas for a positive response to the proposal, but a senior Hamas figure has indicated that the armed group is likely to reject it.

If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, Trump wrote in the Truth Social post.

Mediators have contacted the head of Hamas's military wing in Gaza, who has indicated he does not agree to the new US ceasefire plan, the BBC understands. Some of Hamas's political leadership in Qatar are reportedly open to accepting it with adjustments but have limited influence since they do not control the hostages held by the group.

Another issue for Hamas is the plan's stipulation for them to hand over all of the hostages within the first 72 hours of the ceasefire, risking their bargaining leverage. There are about 48 hostages still being held by the armed group, with only 20 believed to be alive.

The 20-point plan, formulated by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also states that Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza, while leaving room for a potential Palestinian state. However, Netanyahu later reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state, stating that it is not included in the agreement.

Trump has asserted that Israel would have US backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas if the group rejects the plan. Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, insisting Israel will take further action against Hamas if the proposal is disregarded.

The Israeli military initiated a campaign in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and 251 individuals taken hostage. Since then, the Palestinian territory has seen more than 66,000 fatalities from Israeli air strikes, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.