‘Israelis Have Accepted, It Is Time….’: Trump’s ‘Last Warning’ To Hamas On Gaza Deal

<p>US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued what he called his “last warning” to Hamas, urging the Palestinian militant group to accept his proposed terms for releasing hostages held in Gaza.</p>
<p>In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!,” he added.</p>
<p>Later, while addressing reporters, Trump expressed optimism that negotiations were inching closer to a breakthrough. “I think we’re going to have a deal on Gaza very soon. It’s a hell of a problem… I think we’re going to get [all the hostages],” he said, adding that the Gaza war is an issue “we want to solve for the Middle East, for Israel, for everyone.”</p>
<p>According to Trump, the number of remaining hostages in Gaza could be fewer than 20 as the conflict stretches into its 23rd month. “So they [Hamas] have hostages, could be less than 20 because you know, they tend to die. Even though they are young people, largely, they are dying.”</p>
<p>”Young people don’t die, they stay alive, but with this whole thing they tend to die…We have 20 people and about 38 bodies,” the US president further said.</p>
<h3>Hamas Reacts To Trump’s ‘Last Warning'</h3>
<p>Following Trump’s “last warning” to Hamas, the gorup responded with a statement saying that it is “ready to immediately sit at the negotiating table to discuss the release of all prisoners in exchange for a clear declaration to end the war, a total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and creation of a committee of independent Palestinians to run the Gaza Strip.&rdquo;</p>
<p>It added that it &ldquo;welcomes any move that helps the efforts to stop the aggression against our people,&rdquo; affirming that it received &ldquo;some ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire.&rdquo;<br /><br />The group further said that it remains in &ldquo;constant contact with the mediators to turn these ideas into a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands.&rdquo;</p>
<h3>Hamas Presents New Ceasefire Proposal</h3>
<p>Hamas on Saturday presented a fresh ceasefire proposal. The plan calls for Hamas to release all 48 remaining hostages on the truce&rsquo;s first day. In return, Israel would free thousands of Palestinian prisoners and begin negotiations to end the war during the ceasefire period, Reuters reported citing Israel’s N12 News.</p>
<p>An Israeli official confirmed that the proposal is being “seriously considered.” However, there were no further details about the proposal.</p>
<p>Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar on Sunday said during a press briefing with his Danish counterpart in Jerusalem that hostilities in Gaza could cease if Hamas released the hostages and surrendered its weapons.</p>
<p>This comes a day after Hamas reiterated its longstanding position that the group is prepared to release all captives if Israel agrees to halt the war and withdraw forces from Gaza City</p>