Credited from: ALJAZEERA
US President Donald Trump has given Hamas a deadline of Sunday to accept his proposed 20-point peace plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In a stark warning, Trump stated that if the Hamas group fails to agree, “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” highlighting the urgency of the situation. The plan includes provisions for an immediate ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and the disarmament of Hamas, among other terms, according to BBC, Le Monde, and Channel News Asia.
In a positive development, Hamas has announced its willingness to release all remaining Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, reflecting a significant response to Trump's plan. The group stated that this would occur as part of an exchange arrangement outlined in the proposal, contingent upon the fulfillment of necessary conditions. Hamas's acceptance of this clause follows escalated pressure from various international actors and indicates a potential thaw in the long-standing hostilities, according to Al Jazeera and TRT Global.
Alongside this, Trump has implored Israel to halt its airstrikes in Gaza to facilitate the hostage release, emphasizing the need for a secure environment for negotiations to proceed. His post on Truth Social underscored the importance of achieving a broader peace that extends beyond Gaza, framing it as part of his administration's overarching Middle East peace strategy. "Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza," he stated, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.
The international community has responded to Hamas's announcement with optimism, as various nations, including Egypt and Qatar, have expressed support for the potential for peace talks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the commitment to negotiate and urged all parties to seize this opportunity to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stated TRT Global and Al Jazeera.
However, it remains to be seen whether the nuances of the agreement, particularly those regarding the disarmament of Hamas and the administrative transition of Gaza, will lead to a sustainable resolution. Hamas has indicated that many issues will need to be addressed within a larger Palestinian framework involving all factions, as highlighted by The Hill and Vox.