In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic pressure, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas on Saturday, demanding the group “move quickly” to finalize a comprehensive 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the two-year-long war in Gaza. The demand, posted on his Truth Social platform, came just a day after Hamas cautiously accepted key tenets of the U.S.-brokered deal, injecting a volatile mix of hope and urgency into the long-stalled peace process.
“I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace Deal a chance to be completed,” Trump wrote on October 4, 2025. “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay… Let’s get this done, FAST.”
The ultimatum followed Trump’s earlier, more severe warning, giving Hamas until Sunday evening to formally agree to the terms or face the threat of “all hell… like no one has ever seen before.” The high-stakes diplomacy has thrust the devastating conflict into a critical, albeit fragile, new phase, with the international community watching anxiously.
The 20-Point Peace Plan on the Table
The proposal, unveiled by President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the week, outlines a detailed framework for a ceasefire and the post-war governance of the Gaza Strip. The plan’s central pillars include:
- Immediate Ceasefire: A complete cessation of hostilities by both Israel and Hamas upon acceptance of the terms.
- Hostage and Prisoner Exchange: The release of all remaining Israeli hostages (estimated at 48) within 72 hours, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
- Hamas Disarmament: Hamas and other militant factions must surrender their weapons and dismantle all “military, terror, and offensive infrastructure.” Amnesty would be offered to members who comply.
- Israeli Withdrawal: A phased withdrawal of Israeli forces to a buffer zone along the perimeter of Gaza as the terms are implemented.
- International Governance: The establishment of a temporary governing board for Gaza, to be chaired by Trump and potentially include figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to oversee reconstruction and administration. Hamas would be explicitly barred from any future governing role.
Hamas’s Calculated Response
Hamas’s statement on Friday was a significant development, moving from outright rejection of previous proposals to a conditional acceptance. The group agreed to release all hostages and endorsed the articles related to a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and humanitarian aid.
However, the statement stopped short of full acceptance, citing the need for broader Palestinian consensus on crucial issues. “Hamas said issues related to Gaza’s future and Palestinian rights should be settled through a ‘unanimous Palestinian stance’ and based on international law,” reported the Times of India.
Crucially, Hamas’s response did not address the demand for its disarmament—a core Israeli condition. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera that the proposal “cannot be implemented without negotiations,” signaling that while the door is open, significant hurdles remain.
Official Responses and Expert Analysis
The diplomatic flurry has elicited a range of reactions. Following Hamas’s statement, President Trump called on Israel to halt its military operations to ensure the safe release of hostages. “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The Israeli government, while agreeing to the plan, has proceeded with caution. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated his forces would remain “deep inside the Gaza Strip” until Hamas releases all hostages. In a national address, he drew a firm line: “In the second stage… Hamas will be disarmed, and the Strip will be demilitarized. This will happen either diplomatically through Trump’s plan or militarily by us.”
Experts view the current situation as a perilous crossroads. Mkhaimar Abusada, a Gaza-based political scientist, told The Guardian that Hamas has to “choose between the bad and the worst.” He elaborated, “If they say ‘no’, as Trump has made clear, that will not be good and will allow Israel to do whatever it takes to finish this.” This suggests that external pressure is a significant factor in Hamas’s calculations.
The United Nations has urged both sides to capitalize on the momentum. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he “urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.”
The Devastating Human Cost
The diplomatic maneuvers are occurring against the backdrop of a humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded over two years. The scale of the devastation is immense, with statistics painting a grim picture of life and death in the besieged enclave.
Key Statistics on the Gaza Crisis:
- Palestinian Casualties: As of October 1, 2025, the Gaza Ministry of Health has reported 66,148 fatalities and 168,716 injuries. This includes 429 Palestinians killed in the last week of September alone.
- Israeli Casualties: The Israeli military has reported 466 soldiers killed and 2,939 injured in Gaza since the ground operation began in October 2023.
- Sanitation Collapse: According to the UN, over 1.2 million people (57% of Gaza’s population) are directly exposed to sewage, with no residents having access to safely managed sanitation. Solid waste management has collapsed, with 42% of families living near uncollected garbage.
For civilians trapped in Gaza, the news of a potential ceasefire is met with a mixture of desperate hope and profound skepticism after previous truces have collapsed.
What to Watch Next
The coming days are critical. All eyes will be on Cairo, where negotiations between mediators and the involved parties are expected to begin as early as Monday. Key questions remain: Will Hamas agree to disarm, or will it attempt to negotiate this point away? How much flexibility will Israel show if hostages are returned but Hamas’s military structure is not completely dismantled? And can President Trump’s high-pressure tactics hold the fragile process together?
The world holds its breath, hoping that this “last chance” for peace does not become another prelude to a deeper, more devastating chapter in the conflict.
