Trump and Netanyahu Deliver Gaza Peace Ultimatum to Hamas

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the militant group accept their 20-point peace plan for Gaza or face severe consequences. The two leaders unveiled their proposal during a joint press briefing at the White House on Monday, hailing it as a historic step for the Middle East.

Hamas, however, was reportedly not consulted prior to the announcement, with an official stating the group had not even received the plan. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt later briefed Hamas on the terms that same evening.

Both Trump and Netanyahu made it unequivocally clear that Hamas has no alternative but to accept the proposal. President Trump vowed Israel would have his ‘full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas’ should the group refuse. Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this resolve, stating Israel would ‘finish the job by itself’ if Hamas rejects or undermines the plan, emphasizing it ‘can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done.’

The comprehensive 20-point plan, released by the White House, aims to end the ongoing conflict that erupted after the October 7, 2023, attack. Key provisions include an immediate ceasefire, a hostage-for-prisoner swap, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territory, Hamas disarmament, and the establishment of a transitional international governing body. Trump stated the plan mandates the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours.

Notably, the plan calls for Hamas to lay down arms and renounce governance, offering amnesty to members who commit to peaceful coexistence or safe passage to other countries. A temporary governing board, to be headed by President Trump himself, alongside figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is also envisioned to oversee the effort.

The proposal has garnered mixed reactions. While the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, and Egypt, along with the Palestinian Authority, welcomed the initiative, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group denounced it as a ‘recipe to blow up the region.’ Previous US-backed ceasefire attempts have faltered due to a persistent gap between Israeli and Hamas demands.

Netanyahu’s visit, his fourth to the White House since Trump’s return to office in January, aimed to solidify US-Israel relations following recent international moves towards Palestinian statehood. The announcement comes as Israeli forces continue a significant offensive, pushing deeper into Gaza City, with the conflict having claimed over 65,000 lives since October 2023.

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