Trump urges Hamas to move quickly on peace deal
President Trump took a victory lap Saturday after Israel and Hamas signaled support for his 20-point peace plan, but he pressed the Palestinian militant group to “move quickly.”
Hamas partially agreed to the agreement crafted by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday.
“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 in a Truth Social post on Saturday morning.
“Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off,” he continued. “I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!”
The president on Friday issued a deadline to Hamas to accept the terms of the deal or face, “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before.”
Since Hamas announced its partial support, which includes releasing all living and dead hostages, Israeli airstrikes killed six people across the territory, four in Gaza City and two in Khan Younis. But late Friday, Netanyahu’s office said Israel was preparing for the first phase of Trump’s plan.
“We will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team in order to bring the war to an end in accordance with the principles set forth by Israel, which are consistent with President Trump’s vision,” the statement reads.
According to the plan, Israel would withdraw some of its troops and cease any further attacks.
If accepted by the militant group, this would be followed by the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Palestinians detained without charge. An increase in aid would then be allowed into Gaza as people suffer from malnutrition or starvation.
The agreement would also organize a “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, that would run Gaza. Following major reforms, the West Bank’s political body, the Palestinian Authority, would lead Gaza.
Hamas, in its initial response, signaled willingness to cede power but only to an independent Palestinian body of government. The group said it would need more time to respond to the full proposal.
The plan would also ensure that “no one will be forced to leave Gaza” and that “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza.”
The president’s comments also come as the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 67,000 Palestinians have died since the nearly two-year-war began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to The Associated Press.