Hamas responds to Trump ultimatum – Israel suspends offensive combat operations in Gaza

By FokusIsrael editorial team

The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas reacted immediately to US President Donald Trump’s threat on Friday that it would be “wiped out” if it did not accept his proposed 20-point peace plan by Sunday at the latest.

It held out the prospect of releasing all 48 Israeli hostages it was still holding, 20 of whom are said to still be alive. This in exchange for terrorists who are in Israeli captivity.

At the request of President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then ordered the Israeli army to cease all offensive combat operations in Gaza.

Despite this positive development, the implementation of the US peace plan is not yet guaranteed. Even if Hamas accepts certain parts of the plan in its declaration, this is not the case for other key points.

Hamas is demanding to be part of the body that is to decide on the future of the Gaza Strip. However, the peace plan explicitly excludes this.

In addition, the terrorist organization remains silent on the peace plan’s demand that it be disarmed and the Gaza Strip demilitarized.

It can therefore not be ruled out that Hamas will try to wrest concessions from the American president that it knows are unacceptable to Israel. It could then blame the Jewish state for the failure of the US peace proposal.

However, President Trump declared on Monday at the presentation of the 20-point peace plan that it was no longer negotiable in principle.