CaliToday (04/10/2025): In a dramatic high-stakes standoff, President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, giving the group until 6:00 PM Sunday, Washington D.C. time, to accept a "last chance" peace agreement or face an "unprecedented hellish attack." The threat came shortly after Hamas signaled a qualified acceptance of Trump's U.S.-brokered plan, agreeing in principle to release all hostages and transfer administrative control of Gaza.
The rapidly developing situation has placed the Middle East on a knife's edge, with the potential for either a historic breakthrough or a catastrophic military escalation hanging in the balance.
On Saturday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express cautious optimism, stating, "Based on the statement just released by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a long-lasting peace." He coupled this with an urgent demand for an immediate halt to Israeli military operations, writing, "Israel must stop the bombing of Gaza immediately so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly!" He argued that continuing bombing while trying to secure the hostages' return was "too dangerous."
Hamas Signals Agreement, With Conditions
On Friday, Hamas released a formal response to the peace plan, a move that Trump promptly published. The group expressed gratitude for the efforts of Arab and Islamic nations and specifically thanked President Trump for his push to end the war.
The statement confirmed Hamas's agreement with core tenets of the plan, including:
Hostage Release: An agreement to the proposed exchange for the release of all hostages, "including the living and the bodies of the deceased," contingent on ground conditions being secured.
Gaza Administration: An agreement to "transfer the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body composed of independent technocrats," which would be formed through a Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic states.
However, the group stated it was ready to "immediately engage in negotiations through intermediaries to discuss the specific details." They noted that other issues in Trump's plan regarding the future of Gaza required further discussion.
Notably, the Hamas statement did not clarify whether the group would agree to disarm—a key demand previously laid out by both Israel and the United States and a point Hamas has historically rejected.
The Ultimatum: Trump's Iron Fist
Despite the diplomatic opening, Trump's subsequent messages on Truth Social adopted a menacing tone. Recounting the "brutal massacre" of October 7, 2023, he claimed Israel's counter-offensive had already eliminated over 25,000 Hamas fighters.
"The vast majority of those remaining have been surrounded, and are in a military lockdown, just waiting for me to give the order, ‘Get going,’ at which time their lives will end quickly," Trump wrote. "For the others, we know where you are, we know who you are, you will be hunted down and you will be terminated."
He then laid out his final offer: "However, for Hamas, fortunately, they have one last chance!" Trump stated that Middle Eastern nations, the U.S., and Israel had all signed on to a deal that "spares the lives of all remaining Hamas fighters!"
He demanded the immediate release of all hostages and set the hard deadline. "Hamas must make a deal by 6:00 P.M. on Sunday (October 5th), Washington, D.C. time," Trump declared. "If this last chance deal cannot be made, an unprecedented hellish attack will be waged on Hamas. Either way, the Middle East will have peace."
International Reaction and White House Confirmation
Qatar, a key mediator, welcomed Hamas's response on Friday and supported President Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire. Qatari and Egyptian officials have reportedly begun coordinating with the U.S. to finalize the discussions.
The White House backed the president's hardline stance. At a press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed the gravity of the situation. "President Trump has been very clear with Hamas that this is a detailed, acceptable proposal that they must take, or they will face very severe consequences," Leavitt said. "Hamas has an opportunity to accept this plan... If they do not, unfortunately, the consequences will be devastating."
As the clock ticks down to Sunday's deadline, the world watches to see if Hamas will fully accept the terms or if the region will plunge into a new and more violent phase of the conflict.