By: Abe Wertenheim

The diplomatic back-and-forth between Washington, Doha, and Hamas entered a critical phase this week, as Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani personally delivered what Israel HaYom described as an “angry and unequivocal” message from President Donald Trump to Hamas leaders. The exchange underscored the increasingly perilous position of the terror organization’s leadership, as they weigh conditional engagement with the American plan against the risk of military obliteration at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces.

According to a report that appeared on Tuesday in Israel HaYom  Hamas’ formal reply to Trump’s latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal carried the tone of a hesitant “yes,” but was freighted with reservations and new demands. The terrorist faction rejected the proposal’s central pillar — the immediate release of all hostages — and instead sought phased exchanges, while simultaneously insisting on binding guarantees stronger than Trump’s personal assurances that the war would be brought to an end.

For the White House, the carefully measured ambiguity of Hamas’ answer triggered a sharp escalation in rhetoric. A senior American official told Israel HaYom that Trump’s message to the Hamas political bureau was unambiguous: his proposal was final, and it represented the last opportunity for the organization’s leadership to avoid catastrophic consequences. “The president reminded them that rejecting this framework would not only end negotiations but would place the personal safety of their leadership at risk,” the official stressed.

The Israeli daily further revealed that the Qatari prime minister himself was not spared from U.S. pressure. Israel HaYom reported that Washington delivered a parallel message to Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, demanding he use every ounce of Qatari influence to compel Hamas into compliance. Failure to do so, the official noted, would force Washington to reconsider Qatar’s role as Hamas’ principal overseas patron, raising the possibility of coordinated efforts to expel the group from Doha.

This ultimatum reflects growing frustration in Washington over Qatar’s dual role as both an American ally — hosting the region’s largest U.S. military base — and as a long-standing haven for Hamas leaders. While Qatar has facilitated ceasefire talks, the Israel HaYom report observed that Trump’s administration is signaling a willingness to upend the arrangement entirely if Hamas persists in its defiance.

As Israel HaYom previously reported, Trump’s offer to Hamas contained a mix of concessions and threats designed to present the organization with an unmistakable fork in the road. The proposal, delivered through multiple channels — including American-Palestinian mediator Bishara Bahbah, Egypt, and Qatar — included:

Immediate release of all hostages, both living and deceased, at the start of the agreement.

Direct U.S. involvement, with Trump personally overseeing negotiations to end the conflict.

Commitment to Gaza’s reconstruction, backed by American guarantees of financial and logistical support.

An implicit threat, conveyed in Trump’s own words, that Hamas leadership would face relentless pursuit should they spurn the deal.

According to the information provided in the Israel HaYom report, the president even appended a personal note addressed directly to Hamas leaders. In it, he underscored his willingness to engage with them diplomatically, but only on condition of full compliance. The note’s tone was described as a blend of “carrot and stick,” promising reconstruction but paired with the stark warning that Washington would greenlight Israel’s total military takeover of Gaza if Hamas resisted.

For Hamas, the calculus is stark. As the Israel HaYom report emphasized, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have already authorized a new phase of operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’ remaining strongholds. Trump’s proposal, therefore, represents not a reprieve but a final test of the group’s willingness to sacrifice its leadership to preserve its leverage.

Sources cited by Israel HaYom noted that Israeli forces are on the verge of completing their encirclement of Gaza City, making Hamas’ room for maneuver increasingly narrow. Trump’s message, delivered via Al Thani, was blunt: accept the deal and survive in some political form, or reject it and risk annihilation.

The consequences of Hamas’ decision extend far beyond Gaza. According to the Israel HaYom report. Egypt has conveyed similar warnings, aligning with Washington’s position that Israel will be granted freedom of action if Hamas persists in stonewalling. This marks a notable convergence of interests between Cairo, Jerusalem, and Washington, all of whom view Hamas as an obstacle to regional stability.

Meanwhile, Qatar finds itself caught between its longstanding patronage of Hamas and the potential cost of defying Washington. As the Israel HaYom report explained, the message to Doha was particularly sharp: continued protection of Hamas could jeopardize Qatar’s carefully cultivated relationship with the United States and its allies.

Trump’s insistence on personal involvement is a hallmark of his approach to Middle Eastern diplomacy. As the Israel HaYom report reminded its readers, the president has long viewed himself as a uniquely positioned negotiator, capable of cutting through entrenched conflicts with bold, direct proposals. His strategy in this instance reflects both that instinct and a recognition of the political urgency surrounding the war, which has now stretched on for nearly two years since the October 7 massacre that shocked Israel and the world.

The American president’s message, however, is not simply a diplomatic maneuver but also a calculated display of strength. By threatening Hamas’ leadership with personal peril, Trump is attempting to reverse what the Israel HaYom report termed the “culture of impunity” that has allowed the group to operate for decades from safe havens abroad.

Whether Hamas will heed the ultimatum remains uncertain. The Israel HaYom report suggested that the group’s conditional response indicates deep divisions within its leadership, with some factions more willing to test Trump’s resolve than others. The presence of multiple mediators — Bahbah, Egypt, Qatar — underscores both the complexity of the process and the high stakes involved.

For Israel, the prime minister’s message remains clear: military operations will continue until Hamas is dismantled, regardless of negotiations. For Washington, the calculus is equally straightforward: this is Hamas’ last chance to salvage its leadership through diplomacy.

In the wake of Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani’s meeting with Hamas leaders, the Middle East stands at a crossroads. As Israel HaYom has meticulously documented, the stakes of Trump’s ultimatum extend far beyond the confines of Gaza’s tunnels. They implicate Qatar’s role as a regional mediator, Israel’s determination to secure its people after October 7, and America’s credibility as both ally and enforcer.

Whether Hamas chooses diplomacy or defiance may determine not only the fate of its leadership but also the trajectory of the Gaza war itself. For now, Trump’s final warning hangs over Doha like a sword of Damocles, and the world watches to see whether Hamas will step back from the brink — or plunge into its own destruction.