President Trump has issued a blunt ultimatum to Hamas: accept a historic peace plan for Gaza within days or face the consequences, as the militant group signals likely rejection.
Story Snapshot
- President Trump presents a new Gaza peace plan with a three-to-four day deadline for Hamas to accept, backed by Arab states and Israel.
- Hamas officials publicly signal likely rejection, arguing the plan favors Israel and threatens their survival.
- Qatar mediates as the clock ticks, with Israel temporarily pausing military operations for Yom Kippur.
- The plan demands Hamas release hostages and disarm, posing an existential threat to the group’s governance and leverage.
- Rejection risks renewed escalation, further humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and uncertain fate for hostages.
Trump’s Ultimatum and the Stakes for Gaza
In late September 2025, President Donald Trump unveiled a comprehensive peace plan aimed at ending the protracted conflict in Gaza, setting a three-to-four day deadline for Hamas to respond. The proposal, which has garnered support from key Arab and Muslim nations as well as Israel, represents the most significant diplomatic initiative since Trump’s return to office. Trump’s message was unequivocal: if Hamas refuses, “they will face a very sad end.” This hardline stance reflects the administration’s commitment to American interests and regional stability.
Watch: Trump peace plan ‘ignores interests of Palestinian people’, Hamas official says | BBC News
The plan’s core demands—hostage release and Hamas disarmament—strike at the heart of the group’s power structure. For Hamas, acceptance would mean surrendering its primary leverage and risking its survival as Gaza’s governing authority. This dynamic explains the group’s swift pushback; senior Hamas officials have told international media the plan “serves Israel’s interests” and is likely to be rejected unless major amendments are made. The group is currently consulting with other Palestinian factions and seeking clarifications, but the window for negotiation is rapidly closing.
Hamas’s Rejection and the Broader Regional Picture
Hamas’s anticipated rejection is not occurring in a vacuum. The group has long relied on the narrative of Palestinian victimhood and resistance to maintain domestic legitimacy and international sympathy. By framing Trump’s plan as biased, Hamas seeks to rally support among Palestinians and sympathetic governments, even as Arab states and Qatar attempt to mediate. This strategy, however, risks further isolating Hamas diplomatically and inviting a renewed Israeli military response, which could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prolong the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
Hamas signals it could reject Trump’s Gaza peace plan that only ‘serves Israel’s interests’ https://t.co/CsQS13LB3F pic.twitter.com/qriKVS4Bcv
— New York Post (@nypost) October 1, 2025
From a conservative American perspective, the situation underscores the futility of negotiating with groups that refuse to renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist. Trump’s approach—combining maximum pressure with a clear deadline—mirrors his administration’s broader foreign policy doctrine: no more endless concessions to bad actors, no more taxpayer-funded aid without accountability, and no tolerance for threats to American allies.
Potential Consequences and the Path Forward
If Hamas formally rejects the plan, the most immediate consequence will likely be a resumption of large-scale Israeli military operations in Gaza. Such an escalation would not only deepen the humanitarian disaster but also test the resolve of regional partners who have thrown their weight behind Trump’s initiative. The fate of Israeli hostages remains a critical unknown, with families and advocates demanding their safe return regardless of the diplomatic outcome.
Long-term, Hamas’s refusal could harden divisions, entrenching the status quo and dimming prospects for a negotiated two-state solution. For American conservatives, this outcome would validate skepticism toward the viability of peace processes that fail to address the root cause of the conflict: the refusal of groups like Hamas to accept Israel’s existence. It also highlights the importance of American leadership that prioritizes strength, clarity, and the defense of allies over the appeasement of adversaries.
Sources:
Jerusalem Post – Hamas signals it could reject Trump’s Gaza peace plan
