Donald Trump has issued a deadline for Hamas to agree to a deal to halt the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The US president cautioned that if the proposed agreement, which he referred to as the “last chance” offer, is not accepted, severe consequences will befall Hamas. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, stated that a pact with Hamas must be reached by Sunday evening at 6 p.m. EST, with all countries already on board. He emphasized that failure to reach this final opportunity for an agreement will lead to unprecedented consequences against Hamas, ultimately bringing peace to the Middle East by any means necessary.
This warning follows the unveiling of Trump’s plan by the White House to resolve the conflict, which involves establishing a governing body named the “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza. The board, led by Trump and comprising other members including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, was presented alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, to which Israel has agreed.
As the deadline for Hamas to accept the agreement approaches, Israeli forces continue their offensive in Gaza, including targeting the Al-Falah school in Gaza City. Tragically, first responders were among the casualties. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 66,005 Palestinians in Gaza since the initial Hamas attack, which claimed 1,200 lives in Israel back in October 2023.
Following the announcement of Trump’s peace plan, Hamas stated that they would review it before providing a response. However, some political figures, such as Egypt’s Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty, have expressed the need for further negotiations on specific aspects of the proposal, echoing sentiments expressed by Qatar a day earlier. Egypt and Qatar have been pivotal in mediation efforts to end the conflict.
Trump’s comprehensive 20-point plan requires Hamas to release hostages, relinquish power in Gaza, disarm, and in return, receive the release of Palestinian prisoners, cessation of hostilities, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction support for Gaza under international oversight.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the initiative, commending Trump’s leadership in his efforts to end the conflict and provide urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza. Starmer urged all parties to collaborate with the US Administration to finalize the agreement, emphasizing the importance of Hamas accepting the plan to alleviate suffering by disarming and releasing hostages.
In contrast, Ziad Al-Nakhaleh, leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, criticized the plan as a biased agreement favoring the US and Israel, potentially perpetuating aggression against Palestinians. Israeli politician Bezalel Smotrich also condemned the plan as a diplomatic failure disregarding historical lessons.
Recent reports from a UN-commissioned inquiry suggested that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide against Palestinians. The inquiry identified four genocidal acts under international law committed by Israel, including causing harm, conditions aimed at destruction, and preventing births. Independent rights investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council supported these findings.
Following a legal review, the commission concluded that Israel had engaged in four of the five genocidal acts outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention. Commission chair Navi Pillay declared Israel responsible for genocide in Gaza, highlighting an apparent intent to eradicate Palestinians through actions meeting the convention’s criteria.
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