Former President Donald Trump has called on Israel to "immediately" cease airstrikes in Gaza in light of a statement from Hamas suggesting the group is "ready for lasting peace." Trump highlighted the necessity of a pause to safely and swiftly rescue hostages, expressing on his social media that "at this moment, it is too dangerous to proceed."
He further explained that his team is "already discussing the details that need resolution," framing this move as part of a broader aim: "This isn't just about Gaza; it's about achieving the long-desired peace in the Middle East." His proposal ties the hostage rescue to an immediate de-escalation, yet it lacks specifics on timelines, mechanisms, or mediators to implement the pause or ensure the exchange.
Trump's statement follows Hamas's announcement that it is willing to release all Israeli hostages—whether alive or deceased—under the terms of the U.S. president's proposal for Gaza. They expressed readiness to begin mediated negotiations to hash out the agreement's details.
According to information from Reuters, the Palestinian side stated its preparedness to engage in mediated talks to finalize the operational aspects of the release as part of Washington's plan to address the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The decision by the terrorist group Hamas comes after the U.S. president issued an ultimatum this past Friday: failure to accept Washington's peace plan by Sunday at 6:00 PM Eastern Time would result in "an unprecedented hell." Trump claimed that all nations involved in the conflict have accepted the agreement, with the Islamist group’s response being the only thing pending.
Key Questions About Trump's Proposal and Hamas's Response
What did Trump propose to bring peace to Gaza?
Trump proposed an immediate halt to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza to facilitate the safe rescue of hostages and to pave the way for lasting peace in the Middle East.
How did Hamas respond to Trump's peace proposal?
Hamas indicated its willingness to release all Israeli hostages and expressed readiness to start mediated negotiations to finalize the agreement's details.
What are the implications of Trump's ultimatum?
Trump's ultimatum warned of "an unprecedented hell" if Hamas did not accept the peace plan by the specified deadline, suggesting significant consequences for inaction.