Cornered by Trump’s deadline, Hamas submitted a response agreeing to release hostages but defiantly rejecting disarmament.
The Hamas terror organization on Friday evening was forced to submit its official response to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping Gaza peace plan, just hours after the president warned of “hell like no one has ever seen before” if the group rejected his ultimatum.
According to Qatari and Arab media, Hamas’s statement attempted to cloak its surrender in diplomatic language, praising Trump’s “efforts” and Arab mediation, while demanding an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Most notably, the group said it would agree to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, under the framework outlined in Trump’s proposal — though it quickly hedged by insisting “conditions on the ground” be met before any action.
In a face-saving maneuver, Hamas said it would hand Gaza’s administration to an “independent Palestinian technocratic body,” but reports in the Wall Street Journal confirmed what Israel has long known: Hamas has no intention of disarming, even under an international peace arrangement.
Israeli officials, quoted by Kan 11 News, believe Hamas’s response will lead to intensive negotiations in the coming days. The terror group is expected to stall on the release timetable — Trump’s deal requires hostages to be freed within 72 hours of signing — and may attempt to link the return of deceased hostages to IDF troop movements.
The submission came just hours after Trump’s direct warning on Truth Social: “An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington 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 doubled down, warning Hamas of “very grave” consequences if it fails to accept the plan.
For Israel, the stakes are monumental: securing the safe release of the 20 living hostages, while ensuring Hamas cannot rearm or regroup. For Hamas, the clock is ticking. Trump has made clear that this is its final chance to avoid complete destruction.
