President Trump called on Israel to “immediately” stop bombing Gaza as terrorist group Hamas accepted parts of his 20-point proposal to end the war in Gaza.
“Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday.
“Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out,” the president said. “This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
Hamas agreed to release all the remaining hostages, alive and dead, and to give up control to an independent Palestinian body.
The group said “the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter, through the mediators, into negotiations to discuss the details.”
But it also said the parts of the proposal that deal with the future of the Gaza strip and the rights of Palestinians should be up to a “Palestinian national consensus” that’s reached based on international law, “tied to a collective national position” and would involve Hamas. Mr. Trump’s proposal says Hamas cannot play a role in the enclave’s future.
The statement, shared by Mr. Trump on Truth Social, also made no mention of Hamas disarming, another condition of the 20-point plan.
Earlier Friday, Mr. Trump had given Hamas a hard deadline of Sunday to accept the ceasefire deal or face “HELL.”
“Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” he said, adding, “There will be peace in the Middle East one way or the other.”
He called on Palestinians to leave the area because of attacks that could come if the proposal wasn’t agreed to.
“Everyone will be well cared for by those that are waiting to help. Fortunately for Hamas, however, they will be given one last chance! Great, powerful, and very rich Nations of the Middle East, and the surrounding areas beyond, together with the United States of America, have agreed, with Israel signing on, to PEACE, after 3000 years, in the Middle East,” Mr. Trump wrote.
The president’s plan, which he announced earlier this week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to it, would place Gaza under the control of a temporary governing committee led by Mr. Trump himself. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would also be involved.
The plan also required Hamas to lay down arms and leave the enclave. In return, they would get back Palestinian prisoners from Israel and secure an end to the fighting that began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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