US President Donald Trump on Sunday declared he was giving Hamas a “last warning,” insisting the group must accept a deal to release hostages held in Gaza. “The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning,” Trump said on social media.
Shortly after, Hamas released a statement saying it was ready to “immediately sit at the negotiating table” in response to “some ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement.” Axios reported that White House envoy Steve Witkoff sent a new proposal to Hamas last week, though details of the deal remain undisclosed. Trump told reporters, “We had some very good discussions. Good things could happen. I think we’re going to have a deal on Gaza very soon.”
What Does This Mean for the Hostages?
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel welcomed Trump’s remarks, calling them a “true breakthrough.” Hamas militants captured 251 hostages during the October 7, 2023, attack, with 47 still believed to be in Gaza. The Israeli military has confirmed that 25 of them are dead, and the government is pressing for the return of their remains.
This is not the first time Trump has raised pressure. In early March, he demanded Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately and turn over the bodies of those killed, warning, “if not, it is OVER for you.”
How Is the Situation Escalating in Gaza?
The political statements came as Israel intensified its military campaign. On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the Al-Roya residential tower in Gaza City. “It felt like an earthquake,” said witness Mohammed Al-Nazli. According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, at least 48 people were killed in Sunday’s attacks.
The Israeli air force has already leveled two other towers in recent days, claiming Hamas used them as observation points. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was “deepening” its assault on Gaza City, with nearly 100,000 residents already evacuated. He accused Hamas of blocking evacuations and using civilians as “human shields.”
The October 7 assault left 1,219 people dead in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official figures. Israel’s response has killed at least 64,368 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, whose tolls are considered reliable by the United Nations. The escalating violence continues to raise concerns over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
By Yockshard Enyendi
