US President Donald Trump has set a deadline for Hamas to respond to a proposed peace plan regarding Gaza. This deadline is set for 18:00 Washington time (22:00 GMT) on Sunday. Trump detailed the plan on his Truth Social platform, demanding an immediate halt to hostilities and the release of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, as well as the remains of deceased hostages, in return for the release of hundreds of Gazans detained by Israel.
Arab and Turkish mediators are reportedly encouraging Hamas to respond affirmatively to the proposal. However, a senior figure within Hamas has indicated a likely rejection of the plan. Trump’s post emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that failure to reach an agreement would lead to severe consequences for Hamas and asserting that peace in the Middle East would be achieved by some means.
Communication has taken place with the leader of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza, who has expressed opposition to the proposed US ceasefire plan. Some members of Hamas’s political leadership based in Qatar are believed to be more amenable to the proposal but face limitations in their influence, particularly as they do not control the hostages in question. A key point of contention is the plan’s stipulation that all hostages must be delivered within 72 hours of the ceasefire, a condition that would eliminate Hamas’s leverage.
Reports indicate that there are currently 48 hostages being held by Hamas, with only 20 believed to be alive. This situation follows the Israeli military’s campaign initiated in reaction to a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and the abduction of 251 individuals. Since then, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported over 66,288 fatalities in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxq7zp7002o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss