Trump gives Hamas ultimatum: Accept Gaza peace plan or face consequences

Washington (Uttam Hindu News): US President Donald Trump has issued a stern ultimatum to Hamas, warning that it will be completely destroyed if it does not accept the Gaza peace plan by 6 p.m. Sunday (US time). This ultimatum has escalated tensions in the Middle East, even as behind-the-scenes negotiations continue.

President Trump warned Hamas on Friday that if a deal wasn't reached by Sunday evening, "all hell will break loose on them." In an interview with CNN on Saturday, Trump also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was fully prepared for the peace plan.

Trump's 20-point peace proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire and a complete framework for Gaza's post-war administration. The proposal could include the creation of a temporary governing board, likely chaired by Trump himself and including international figures such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Amid Trump's stern warning, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered some signs of softening. On Sunday, Rubio said on an NBC program that Hamas had "generally agreed" to Trump's proposal and the framework for the hostage release.

However, he clarified that this is only the first step in the process, and many technical and logistical aspects remain to be agreed upon. According to Rubio, the US is trying to gauge how serious Hamas is about the agreement. He explained that the first priority is securing the release of all hostages, in exchange for Israel returning to the "yellow line" (the middle position) in Gaza.