PEACE.. OR YET MORE PAIN?

Dozens killed in fresh strikes

- BY CHRIS HUGHES

HAMAS officials were last night examining a US peace ultimatum to lay down their arms, even as war raged across Gaza, killing at least 46 Palestinians.

Hamas was handed the 20-point peace proposal at midnight on Monday, just hours before the latest Israeli onslaught.

Donald Trump, who had announced the plan with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, warned Hamas has just “three or four days” to agree to the proposals.

But he warned if the militants rejected the plan then Netanyahu would be able to “do what he has to do,” meaning more military action.

At the White House yesterday, Trump said Israeli and Arab leaders had accepted the plan.

However, the US President added: “Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it's not, it's going to be a very sad end.”

Hamas said it will discuss the plan with other Palestinian factions before responding.

The proposals will allow Gazans to remain in the Strip, an amnesty to Hamas fighters and the return of hostages within 72 hours.

Once all 50 remaining hostages are returned, including 20 who are thought still alive, 250 life-sentence Palestinians will be freed, along with other prisoners and Palestinian dead.

Hamas would be banished from the Strip, with a new police force introduced, as well as deradicalisation programmes and Gaza agreeing to live in peace next to Israel.

A board of peace would be headed by Trump and ex-PM Tony Blair to supervise Gaza before a Palestinian authority is formed.

The proposal demands that Hamas effectively surrenders and disarms in return for an end to fighting, humanitarian aid for Palestinians and the promise of reconstruction in Gaza.

The UK joined European nations in backing the plan, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan are also said to have approved it.