Trump praised Hamas’s reply as a chance for peace, but Israeli voices caution it’s a dangerous “yes, but” rejection.
US President Donald Trump on Friday cautiously welcomed Hamas’s response to his sweeping Gaza peace plan, calling it a sign the terror group may finally be ready for peace — even as Israeli leaders and allies in Washington warned Hamas is simply playing for time.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared: “Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that.”
The president added that negotiations were already underway: “This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East.”
While Israel’s government has not yet officially responded, opposition leader Yair Lapid signaled support, urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to join Trump-led talks to secure the hostages’ release. Lapid said he had informed Washington that Netanyahu would have “political backing” to move forward.
Hamas, however, couched its reply in vague language — agreeing “in principle” to release all Israeli hostages within Trump’s framework, but only if “conditions on the ground” are met. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq told Al Jazeera the 72-hour release timeline was “theoretical and unrealistic,” and openly stated that Hamas would not disarm, instead insisting its weapons would be handed over only to a future Palestinian state.
That admission was seized upon by Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham, who bluntly stated Hamas had effectively rejected the deal. “No disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control, and tying hostage release to endless negotiations — this is a classic ‘Yes, but.’ In essence, it is a rejection of Trump’s take-it-or-leave-it proposal.”
The back-and-forth came just hours after Trump issued his stark ultimatum: “An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. Every Country has signed on! If this last chance agreement is not reached, all hell, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. There will be peace in the Middle East one way or the other.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the warning, stressing Hamas faces “very grave” consequences if it refuses to comply.
For Israel, the danger is clear: Hamas is attempting to cloak rejection in diplomacy, buying time while refusing to surrender its weapons. Trump may have extended one last chance for peace — but if Hamas continues its double game, the countdown to decisive action has already begun.
