Washington: US President Donald Trump has given Hamas three to four days to respond to his proposed 20-point peace plan for Gaza. The plan includes an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, the disarmament of Hamas, and Israel’s gradual withdrawal from the territory. Trump also suggested a post-war transitional authority led by himself.
Addressing reporters at the White House, Trump said that Arab and Muslim countries, along with Israel, had agreed to the framework. “We are just waiting for Hamas, and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it’s not, it’s going to be a sad end,” he warned.
The Republican leader announced the plan a day earlier, describing it as a turning point. “It is a beautiful day, potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation,” he declared.
According to a Palestinian source, Hamas has started internal discussions on the proposal with its political and military leadership, both inside Palestine and abroad. The consultations are expected to take several days due to the complexity of the terms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood alongside Trump during the announcement. He said the plan aligned with Israel’s war aims. Netanyahu added that if Hamas refused or attempted to undermine the plan after agreeing, Israel would act independently to “finish the job.”
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel. Since then, Israeli strikes have devastated Gaza, killing 66,055 Palestinians according to the health ministry.
