President Donald Trump on Friday issued a blunt ultimatum to Hamas, giving the militant group until 6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza or face “all hell, like no one has ever seen before,” a warning he posted on his Truth Social account.
In the post, Trump described Hamas as “a ruthless and violent threat” whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel he called a “MASSACRE.” He urged Palestinian civilians in parts of Gaza to move to what he described as safer areas ahead of possible further action. The president said more than 25,000 Hamas fighters have been killed since the initial assault and warned that surviving fighters were “militarily trapped” and could be eliminated if they did not accept the deal.
The proposal unveiled this week in discussions involving the United States and Israel would require Hamas to disarm, release all hostages and allow for a transitional international governance arrangement in Gaza, according to U.S. officials and media accounts describing the plan. A range of regional powers in the Middle East reportedly back the deal. Trump said the agreement would spare remaining Hamas fighters if they accept the terms, but he insisted the deadline was final.
Trump framed the measure as a “last chance” to end years of violence and establish long-term peace in the region, saying that “Great, powerful, and very rich Nations of the Middle East” along with the United States and Israel had signed on to the plan. He demanded the immediate release of hostages, including the return of bodies of those killed and threatened severe military consequences if Hamas did not agree by the deadline.
The timetable adds pressure to ongoing behind the scenes diplomacy. Arab mediators, including Qatar and Turkey, have been engaged in efforts to secure a truce and the release of hostages. Israeli leaders have expressed varying degrees of support for international initiatives that would reduce violence while ensuring Israel’s security. As of Friday, Hamas had not publicly accepted the U.S.-backed terms, and officials warned that negotiations were continuing.
