US President Donald Trump has given Hamas an ultimatum of “three or four days” to accept his Gaza peace plan.
The deal, backed by Israel, calls for a ceasefire, hostage release, Hamas disarmament, and a phased Israeli withdrawal.
Trump announced the proposal on Monday after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
On Tuesday, he told reporters, “We’re just waiting for Hamas. If it’s not accepted, it’s going to be a very sad end.”
The plan also introduces a post-war transitional authority led by Trump himself, with support from former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. It would see an international stabilisation force deployed in Gaza to oversee the transition.
World powers welcomed the initiative. Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signaled optimism, while Britain, France, Germany, Italy, China, and Russia expressed strong backing.
Qatar, where Hamas’s political leaders are based, said the group had promised to study the plan responsibly.
However, skepticism remains.
A Palestinian source told reporters Hamas had begun internal consultations but warned discussions could take days given the complexities. On the ground, Gazans expressed doubt.
“This plan is unrealistic. It sets conditions Hamas will never accept,” said Ibrahim Joudeh, a displaced resident in southern Gaza.
Netanyahu welcomed the plan but stressed Israel would keep its troops in most of Gaza.
He also ruled out supporting a Palestinian state, despite Trump leaving room for it in his proposal.
Far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition called the deal a “diplomatic failure.”
The Palestinian Authority praised Trump’s “sincere efforts,” but Hamas ally Islamic Jihad rejected the plan, saying it was an attempt by Israel and the US to impose through diplomacy what could not be won through war.
The conflict has raged since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people in Israel.
In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.
As fighting continues, Trump’s ultimatum places pressure on Hamas to decide.
Whether the group accepts or rejects the deal will shape the next phase of the Gaza war.