Hamas Accepts Parts of Trump's Gaza Peace Plan Amid Ultimatum

Hamas Accepts Parts of Trump's Gaza Peace Plan Amid Ultimatum

Hamas announced on Friday that it has accepted certain aspects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The group indicated a willingness to relinquish power and release all remaining hostages. However, it stated that other elements of the plan require further discussions among Palestinians.

This announcement followed Trump’s ultimatum, which demands that Hamas agree to the deal by Sunday evening. He warned of a potential escalation in military action nearly two years after the conflict began, triggered by the October 7 attack on Israel. The response from the U.S. and Israel regarding Hamas's partial acceptance remains unclear.

Trump is eager to fulfill his commitments to end the war and secure the release of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday. His peace plan has received approval from Israel and has been welcomed internationally. However, key mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, have indicated that some aspects of the plan require further negotiation.

"An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time," Trump stated on social media. He emphasized that all nations have endorsed the plan and warned that failure to reach an agreement would lead to severe consequences for Hamas. "THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER," he added.

Under Trump’s proposal, Hamas would be required to release the remaining 48 hostages, approximately 20 of whom are believed to be alive. In exchange, Israel would cease its military operations, withdraw from significant portions of the territory, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. Plans to relocate much of Gaza’s population would be abandoned, and the territory would be placed under international governance, overseen by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Notably, the plan does not outline a path for future reunification with the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

A Hamas official indicated that some elements of the plan are unacceptable and need amendments, although specifics were not provided. Many Palestinians desire an end to the conflict but perceive this and previous U.S. proposals as heavily favoring Israel.

Since the end of a previous ceasefire in March, Israel has intensified its pressure on Hamas. The territory has been largely sealed off from essential supplies, leading to severe humanitarian conditions. Reports indicate that Gaza City has faced famine conditions, with around 400,000 residents fleeing in recent weeks, while many others remain trapped.

Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office, described the dire situation for displaced families, noting that some are unable to move south due to financial constraints. "One of the families had three children and the woman was pregnant with her fourth. And there were many other vulnerable cases there, including elderly people and people with disabilities," she said.

Trump has claimed that most of Hamas's fighters are "surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED," awaiting orders for a military offensive. Despite significant losses among Hamas leaders and fighters, the group continues to exert influence in areas not under Israeli control and has conducted sporadic attacks against Israeli forces.

Hamas has maintained that it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, terms that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected, insisting that Hamas must surrender and disarm.

The conflict escalated dramatically on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 others. Israel's retaliatory actions have reportedly resulted in over 66,000 Palestinian deaths, with the Gaza Health Ministry stating that women and children comprise about half of the casualties. The ongoing offensive has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population, often multiple times, rendering much of the territory uninhabitable. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have sought to mediate an end to the fighting while providing military and diplomatic support to Israel.