“Israel has agreed to my terms. Now it’s time for Hamas to do the same. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of rejecting the deal. This is my ultimatum,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on September 7, without elaborating further.
Shortly afterward, Hamas issued a statement saying it was “ready to immediately sit at the negotiating table” following new U.S. proposals for a ceasefire agreement. According to Axios, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff sent Hamas a new ceasefire and hostage-release proposal last week, though the White House has not disclosed details. Trump and Hamas made their statements just after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) destroyed a third apartment block in Gaza City in recent days. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel was intensifying its offensive in the city.
On September 6, Israeli protesters took to the streets urging their government to reverse its push into Gaza City, fearing for the safety of hostages believed to be held there. Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Out of 251 hostages taken, 47 remain in captivity, with about 20 thought to be alive. Israel’s retaliation has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, the majority civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Last month, Hamas agreed to a phased ceasefire proposal that would release hostages in stages. However, Israel has demanded the immediate release of all hostages, complete disarmament of Hamas, and the group’s withdrawal from Gaza, among other conditions.
In March, Trump issued a similar ultimatum to Hamas, warning that “it will all be over for you” if the group failed to release the remaining hostages and return the bodies of the dead.