Trump sets 3-4 day deadline for Hamas to accept Gaza peace plan

US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas, giving the Palestinian militant group just three to four days to accept a peace plan that Israel and key Arab nations have already endorsed. Trump warned of a “very sad end” if Hamas refuses the deal, which demands the release of all Israeli hostages, disarmament, and the relinquishment of administrative control over Gaza.

Hamas, which was not part of the negotiations leading to the proposal, has said it is “studying” the plan. Yet sources close to the group describe it as “completely biased toward Israel” and laden with “impossible conditions” that could effectively dismantle the organization.

“What Trump has proposed is the full adoption of all Israeli conditions, which do not grant the Palestinian people or the residents of the Gaza Strip any legitimate rights,” said a Palestinian official speaking on condition of anonymity.

Time appears to be running out. Trump, departing the White House, told reporters: “We’re just waiting for Hamas. They have about three or four days to respond. Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end.” When asked if there was room for negotiation, Trump replied, “Not much.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced the pressure, declaring that if Hamas rejects the deal, “Israel will finish the job.” Meanwhile, the plan has been welcomed by foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt, leaving Hamas with limited diplomatic maneuvering.

The stakes are high. Trump promised that if Hamas accepts the deal, the 48 hostages currently held in Gaza would be released within 72 hours. In a related diplomatic move, Netanyahu apologized to his Qatari counterpart over a September 9 attack in Doha targeting Hamas leaders—a gesture reportedly required by Qatar to facilitate Hamas’s potential acceptance of the peace plan.

With international scrutiny intensifying and disarmament looming, Hamas faces a historic decision: accept the deal and face internal backlash, or reject it and risk a devastating military response.