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Trump Gives Hamas Days to Accept Gaza Peace Plan, Warns of “Sad End” if Rejected

By: Fern Sidman

President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, giving the terror organization only “three to four days” to decide whether to accept his newly unveiled 20-point Gaza peace framework. The plan, introduced during a joint White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is being described by both American and Israeli officials as a last, serious effort to halt the devastating conflict before Israel resumes its offensive operations in Gaza.

Speaking on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that Hamas must respond swiftly. “Hamas is either going to be doing it or not,” he said. “And if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end.” Asked whether there was room for additional negotiations, Trump was blunt: “Not much.” His remarks underscored the administration’s conviction that months of talks have reached their natural conclusion and that the time for compromise has nearly expired.

According to a report on World Israel News (WIN), the ultimatum is part of a broader strategy designed to pressure Hamas into compliance by leveraging both international diplomacy and Israel’s military posture. Trump’s framing of the deal as “final” reflects his belief that a decisive turning point has arrived not only for Gaza but for the wider Middle East.

The plan itself is sweeping in scope, balancing immediate ceasefire provisions with long-term reconstruction and governance strategies. The administration’s statement, reviewed by World Israel News, makes clear that the plan hinges on an initial cessation of hostilities tied directly to the return of hostages.

If both Israel and Hamas agree:

All fighting will immediately halt. Israeli forces would withdraw to a designated line within Gaza.

Hostage release will occur within 72 hours. All living hostages and the remains of deceased Israelis will be returned.

In return, Israel will release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, including women and children.

For every Israeli hostage’s remains returned, Israel will release 15 deceased Gazans.

The humanitarian dimension is also significant. World Israel News reported that the plan includes comprehensive aid measures: rehabilitation of hospitals, bakeries, and water infrastructure; road clearing; and oversight by international actors such as the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other NGOs.

A transitional Palestinian committee, supported by global experts, will administer Gaza. Oversight will come from a new Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump himself, with the participation of high-profile international leaders, including former British prime minister Tony Blair.

Perhaps the most controversial element of the plan involves Hamas’s rank-and-file. Those members who agree to renounce violence will receive amnesty. For those unwilling to stay in Gaza, the plan guarantees safe passage to other countries.

As the World Israel News report observed, this provision reflects a pragmatic approach aimed at preventing the re-emergence of militant networks while simultaneously reducing the human cost of large-scale punitive operations. Still, critics argue that allowing Hamas operatives to walk free risks exporting terrorism abroad.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, voiced strong support for the Trump framework, warning Hamas that rejection would leave Israel no choice but to act militarily.

“If they reject the plan, Israel will finish the job, either the easy way or the hard way,” Danon said, as cited in the World Israel News report. “Their return cannot wait,” he added, referencing the hostages still held in Gaza. He described the deal as “a plan to end the tyranny of terror that was unleashed on October 7.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed these sentiments, praising Trump’s leadership while reminding Israelis that military options remain firmly on the table. Netanyahu, according to the WIN report, reassured families of the hostages that any failure by Hamas to meet the terms would trigger a resumption of Israel’s offensive, aimed at dismantling the group once and for all.

While the Trump administration has presented the ultimatum in stark terms, reports suggest that Hamas and other Palestinian factions are carefully weighing the proposal. CBS News quoted unnamed sources claiming that Hamas was “leaning toward acceptance.”

Still, as the World Israel News report highlighted, skepticism remains high. The group’s past track record—accepting international deals only to renege or use them as cover for rearmament—has left Israeli officials wary. Trump’s insistence on a short deadline reflects a desire to prevent Hamas from using prolonged talks as a stalling tactic.

The Trump peace plan is not only a bilateral initiative between Israel and Hamas but also a regional and international effort. According to the information provided in the World Israel News report, the framework emerged after consultations with Arab and Muslim states, with Qatar’s prime minister participating in a trilateral call alongside American and Israeli leaders.

Qatar’s involvement is particularly noteworthy. Long seen as a financial lifeline for Hamas, Doha’s willingness to play a mediating role represents both an opportunity and a risk. On the one hand, Qatar has leverage that few others possess; on the other, its ties to Hamas raise concerns about impartiality.

The inclusion of international oversight through the Board of Peace aims to counteract such concerns. With Trump and Tony Blair chairing the body, the framework attempts to blend American influence, European credibility, and Middle Eastern engagement.

Beyond ending the immediate war, the Trump plan envisions transforming Gaza from a perpetual conflict zone into a functioning society. World Israel News reported that the plan proposes:

A special economic zone, encouraging investment.

International redevelopment funds to rebuild homes, schools, and infrastructure.

Job creation programs designed to provide alternatives to militant recruitment.

The logic is clear: long-term stability requires more than disarmament. It demands hope, opportunity, and governance structures that prevent extremist groups from filling the vacuum.

For Israelis, the hostages remain the most visceral and urgent dimension of the conflict. Families have staged relentless campaigns, pleading with the government not to let their loved ones fade into the background of geopolitical maneuvering.

As the World Israel News report indicated, the Trump framework’s insistence on a 72-hour hostage release is its most popular element among the Israeli public. The swift timeline is designed to reassure Israelis that humanitarian concerns will not be sidelined by endless negotiations.

Yet, the risks of rejection loom large. Should Hamas decline, Israel is expected to intensify its military campaign. Trump himself warned that Hamas’s refusal would mean “a very sad end.” Analysts quoted by World Israel News interpret this as a green light for Israel to expand its operations, potentially with overt American backing.

Danon’s remarks made the stakes explicit: “If they reject the plan, Israel will finish the job.”

Such a scenario could trigger broader regional instability. Hezbollah remains a threat in the north, Iran continues to funnel resources to its proxies, and unrest across the West Bank could flare. The Trump ultimatum, therefore, is not only about Hamas but about setting the trajectory for the entire Middle East in the months ahead.

Observers also note the domestic political implications. With Trump back in the White House, the Gaza conflict offers him a stage to demonstrate both toughness and deal-making prowess. By framing the plan as a bold ultimatum—“take it or leave it”—Trump is appealing to his base while also courting international recognition as a peacemaker.

The report at World Israel News pointed out that Trump’s previous initiatives, including the Abraham Accords, transformed Israel’s regional standing. Whether this Gaza plan can replicate that success remains uncertain.

The coming days will determine whether the Trump administration’s Gaza peace framework becomes a breakthrough or another chapter in a long history of failed agreements. With Hamas given just three to four days to decide, the pressure is immense.

For Israel, the plan represents both hope and risk: hope that the hostages might finally return and that Gaza could chart a new course, risk that Hamas will reject the terms and invite an even bloodier confrontation.

As World Israel News has reported, the stakes could not be higher. “All 48 hostages must return—the living for rehabilitation, the deceased for burial in their homeland,” one Israeli hostage advocacy group declared. That, ultimately, is the heart of the matter.

For Trump, the ultimatum is not merely a negotiation tactic but a test of his larger vision: that decisive leadership can compel enemies to the table and that America, once again, can broker “eternal peace in the Middle East.”