Washington D.C.- U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted up pressure on Hamas Sunday, declaring he was giving the militant group a “last warning” to accept a proposed deal for the release of hostages in Gaza.
The ultimatum came amid Israel’s escalating military campaign in Gaza City, deepening fears for civilians and captives caught in the conflict.
Washington’s Pressure and Hamas’s Response
Trump announced on social media that Israel had already agreed to his terms and insisted Hamas must follow suit or face consequences. “The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well… This is my last warning,” he wrote, offering no further details.
Shortly afterward, Hamas signaled it was open to negotiations, saying it was ready to “immediately sit at the negotiating table” to discuss what it described as “some ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement.”
The remarks came after Axios reported that White House envoy Steve Witkoff delivered a new proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal to Hamas last week. Trump himself fueled speculation of progress, telling reporters, “We had some very good discussions. Good things could happen. I think we’re going to have a deal on Gaza very soon.”
This is not the first time Trump has issued an ultimatum. In early March, he demanded Hamas release all remaining hostages and return the bodies of those killed, warning that if not, “it is OVER for you.”
Israeli advocacy group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed Trump’s latest intervention, calling it a “true breakthrough” in efforts to secure freedom for the captives.
Hamas militants kidnapped 251 hostages during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Israeli authorities believe 47 are still held in Gaza, 25 of whom are dead. Israel is demanding the return of both the living and the remains of the deceased.
Israeli Offensive in Gaza City
Trump’s warnings coincided with a renewed Israeli push in Gaza City. On Sunday, the Israeli military bombed a residential tower in the Al-Roya neighborhood—the third high-rise destroyed in three days. Residents described the blast as powerful enough to feel “like an earthquake,” according to eyewitness Mohammed Al-Nazli.
Local officials reported at least 48 deaths from Israeli strikes that day. Gaza’s civil defense agency, which provided the figures, said the targeted buildings had been leveled under Israeli claims that Hamas was using them as observation posts.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the army was “deepening” its assault on the urban center. He said around 100,000 residents had already fled but accused Hamas of preventing further evacuations and using civilians as “human shields.”
The intensifying bombardment has raised alarms among aid groups, which warn that conditions in Gaza—already described by the United Nations as catastrophic—could worsen further.
Meanwhile, Israeli protesters demonstrated against Netanyahu’s strategy over the weekend, urging the government to reconsider the military operation in Gaza City out of concern for the hostages’ safety.
Mounting Toll and Uncertain Future
The war continues to exact a staggering human cost. The October 7 Hamas-led assault killed 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to official figures.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign has left at least 64,368 Palestinians dead, the majority civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures that the UN considers reliable.
Media restrictions and limited access to Gaza make it impossible for independent outlets, including AFP, to verify all casualty figures.
Still, the scale of the devastation has fueled international concern over the humanitarian crisis and the stalled peace process.
As negotiations inch forward, Trump’s assertive stance highlights Washington’s pivotal role in brokering any breakthrough. Yet whether his “last warning” will be enough to push Hamas toward compromise—or harden positions on both sides—remains uncertain.
