Washington: US President Donald Trump set Sunday evening as the deadline for Hamas to accept his ceasefire and prisoner swap proposal, calling it the "last chance" for the Palestinian group. Trump said on Friday that Hamas must accept the deal by 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, stating that if it is not consented to by then, "all hell, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas."
According to Philippines News Agency, Trump emphasized the severity of the situation in a message on his social media platform Truth Social, declaring that more than 25,000 Hamas "soldiers" have been killed as retribution for the October 7th attack. He noted that the remaining forces are surrounded and militarily trapped, awaiting his command, "go," for their lives to be ended. Trump urged innocent Palestinians to leave the "area of potentially great future death" for safer parts of Gaza, where they will be cared for.
While Trump did not specify the exact area referred to as "potentially great future death," it is noted that Israel has been intensifying its military campaign in Gaza City. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt remarked on Trump's stance, expressing deep concerns about the ongoing atrocities in the Middle East. She reiterated that Trump's proposal is detailed and must be accepted by Hamas to avoid grave consequences.
The UN reported that more than 417,000 people have been displaced from northern Gaza since mid-August, highlighting unsafe conditions in the south. UN relief chief Tom Fletcher underscored the need for unimpeded humanitarian efforts despite ongoing fighting in Gaza City, stressing that displacement orders do not absolve parties from their responsibilities to protect civilians.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for nearly 18 years, further tightening it in March by closing border crossings and blocking essential supplies, leading to famine conditions. Since October 2023, Israeli bombardments have resulted in nearly 66,300 Palestinian deaths, primarily women and children. The UN and rights groups have warned of the enclave becoming uninhabitable due to starvation and disease amid widespread displacement.
