Accept Gaza peace deal or face the consequences, Hamas told

Trump and Netanyahu plan to end war includes key role for Tony Blair

- David Smith

Donald Trump and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have delivered an ultimatum to Hamas, warning the militant group to accept their 20-point peace plan for Gaza or face the consequences.

The two leaders met at the White House in Washington yesterday then held a joint press briefing in which they hailed their proposal as a historic breakthrough and a new chapter for the Middle East.

But it was clear that Hamas had not been consulted and its position on the terms remained uncertain. A Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, said the group had not even received the plan, the Reuters news agency reported.

Both Trump and Netanyahu made clear they were not offering Hamas a choice. If the group refused, Trump told reporters, "Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas. But I hope that we're going to have a deal for peace, and if Hamas rejects the deal... Bibi, you'd have our full backing to do what you would have to do."

The Israeli prime minister said ominously: "If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done." Netanyahu added: "We'd prefer the easy way but it has to be done. All these goals must be achieved because we didn't fight this horrible fight, sacrifice the finest of our young men to have Hamas stay in Gaza and threaten us again and again and again with these horrific massacres." Neither man took questions from reporters. Earlier the White House released the 20-point plan aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory that erupted after the deadly attack on 7 October 2023. It calls for a ceasefire, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament and a transitional government led by an international body.