US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, giving the terror group just “three or four days” to sign his administration’s peace plan for Gaza
President Trump has issued a chilling ultimatum to Hamas as the terror organisation faces a crucial deadline to accept his Middle East peace proposal.
The US leader disclosed he would give Hamas merely “three or four days” to sign the American-brokered deal for Gaza, warning the militants would “pay in hell” if they dare spurn the comprehensive 20-point proposal, reports The Times. Trump’s “wide-ranging plan to end the Gaza conflict” has won approval from Israel and garnered a positive response from the Palestinian Authority, which is expected to ultimately take charge of Gaza.
Multiple Arab and Muslim leaders have also endorsed the initiative, despite worries over last-minute changes demanded by Benyamin Netanyahu. The development follows a report on how Trump’s claims of bringing peace to Middle East are ‘obviously ridiculous’.
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The Israeli prime minister succeeded in obtaining vital flexibility permitting Israeli forces to remain “until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat” – language that could potentially allow an indefinite military occupationreports the Express.
The eleventh-hour modification prompted Qatar, acting as a key negotiator and mediator, to advocate for delaying the plan’s release on Monday, but the White House pressed on anyway and pressured regional powers to support it, according to Axios.
Clock ticking for Hamas response When probed on Tuesday about the timeframe for Hamas to deliver its response, Trump stated: “We’re going to do about three or four days; we’ll see how it is. All of the Arab countries are signed up, the Muslim countries are all signed up, Israel is all signed up, we’re just waiting for Hamas.”
The president made it clear that there was “not much” room for negotiation over the terms. He later increased the pressure by warning Hamas would face severe consequences if it rejected the plan, which requires the militant organisation to surrender its weapons, release all captives and be stripped of any governing role in Gaza.
“We have one signature that we need and that signature will pay in hell if they don’t sign. I hope they sign for their own good and create something really great,” Trump told assembled US military chiefs in Quantico, Virginia.
Nobel prize hopes dashed
The president also mused on whether this breakthrough could earn him a Nobel peace prize. “Will you get the Nobel prize? Absolutely not. They’ll give it to a guy that didn’t do a damn thing. Give it to a guy who wrote a book about the mind of Donald Trump,” he said.
Ceasefire and withdrawal terms revealed
The proposal outlines demands for a ceasefire, Hamas releasing hostages within 72 hours, and Israel’s staged withdrawal from Gaza, with a post-conflict transitional authority headed by Trump and including Sir Tony Blair.
Trump seemed to dismiss any prospect of American forces joining the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), the newly suggested organisation the proposal stated would be formed to train and support Palestinian police in keeping order and preventing weapons from pouring into Gaza.
Trump jokes about peace role
He also joked about being selected as chairman of the Board of Peace charged with “the framework and the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza” until the Palestinian Authority completes its reform process.
Trump quipped: “We’re going to create something that was my idea. But unfortunately, I got drafted. It’s going to be called the Board of Peace and it’s going to reign over that territory. They asked if I’d be the chairman of the Board of Peace. I wasn’t counting on that … but I said yes.”
Trump continued: “We’re going to watch over that very volatile part of the world and keep it non-volatile so you don’t have to get involved. We want to save you for other things.”
Palestinian Authority seizes opportunity
The Palestinian Authority has pledged to implement reforms, sensing an opportunity to regain control of Gaza and potentially lay the groundwork for a Palestinian state. “The State of Palestine welcomes the sincere and determined efforts of President Donald J Trump to end the war on Gaza and affirms its confidence in his ability to find a path toward peace,” it declared in a statement.
“We have affirmed our desire for a modern, democratic, and non-militarised Palestinian state, committed to pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power,” it further stated, promising reforms that include elections and the abolition of a system that provides payments to families of militants who launch attacks on Israelis.
Meanwhile, Qatari officials were set to hold crucial discussions with Hamas and Turkey on Tuesday night. “It is still too early to speak about responses but we are truly optimistic that this plan, as we said, is a comprehensive one,” expressed Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari.
Hamas has initiated consultations “within its political and military leaderships both inside Palestine and abroad”, a source informed AFP. “The discussions could take several days due to the complexities.”
Trump added: “Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end.”