Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
President Donald Trump issued a firm ultimatum to Hamas on Friday, stating that if the group does not agree to his Gaza peace plan by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out.” The deadline comes after Trump unveiled a 20-point proposal earlier in the week, aimed at ending the conflict and facilitating a comprehensive resolution.
Trump had been awaiting Hamas’s response since Monday, when he presented the plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Netanyahu publicly agreed to the framework, which outlines an end to hostilities, the release of hostages, and a redevelopment strategy for Gaza. Trump had initially indicated he would give Hamas three to four days to respond to what he called “potentially one of the great days ever in civilization.”
Hamas Deliberations and Trump’s Impatience
Hamas has yet to provide a definitive answer to the proposed agreement. The group has been engaged in discussions with regional mediators from Qatar and Egypt regarding the plan’s terms. Trump spoke with Qatar’s emir midweek to receive an update on these ongoing conversations.
Communications between Hamas’s political leadership in Qatar and its military commanders in Gaza have historically been challenging in previous ceasefire attempts. In a social media post on Friday, Trump expressed his growing impatience for a resolution. “The details of the document are known to the WORLD, and it is a great one for ALL! We will have PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other,” he wrote. “The violence and bloodshed will stop. RELEASES THE HOSTAGES, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT ARE DEAD, NOW!”
Trump reiterated his Sunday evening deadline, adding: “Every Country has signed on! 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.” He also called for “all innocent Palestinians” to relocate from besieged areas of Gaza to “safer parts of Gaza,” assuring that “Everyone will be well cared for by those that are waiting to help.”
Details of the Peace Proposal
The peace plan introduced by Trump appears to challenge several of Hamas’s previously stated red lines. Key provisions include the decommissioning of the group’s weapons and its exclusion from future governance in Gaza. The proposal mandates the destruction of all Hamas infrastructure, both above and below ground, under the supervision of independent monitors, without reconstruction.
Under the framework, Israel would release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,700 Palestinians detained since the conflict began. In return, Hamas would free 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. The plan also offers amnesty to Hamas members who “commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons.”
The proposal outlines a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, with an International Stabilization Force (ISF) led by Arab partners assuming security responsibilities. A Palestinian committee, overseen by an international “Board of Peace,” would govern Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority is prepared to take control. The plan acknowledges the aspiration for a Palestinian state and seeks to establish a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
High Stakes for Gaza
President Trump’s stringent Sunday deadline places immense pressure on Hamas to accept the comprehensive peace plan. The ultimatum underscores a critical juncture in efforts to resolve the protracted conflict in Gaza, with the potential for intensified consequences should an agreement not be reached.
