Trump Pressures Israel and Hamas: Act Swiftly on Gaza Truce or Face ‘Massive Bloodshed’ in Fragile Egypt Talks
In a stark admonition amid mounting tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump implored Israel and Hamas on Monday to accelerate progress on a proposed Gaza peace framework, emphasizing that procrastination could unleash “massive bloodshed.” The directive arrived just before the warring factions’ anticipated discussions in Egypt later that day, where prospects for a ceasefire hung in the balance.
Trump shared his urgent plea via Truth Social: “I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this centuries-old ‘conflict.’ TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW – SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!”
The president highlighted encouraging developments from weekend dialogues involving Hamas and delegations from Arab, Muslim, and other global nations. These exchanges, he noted, centered on hostage liberation, war termination in Gaza, and broader Middle East stability. “There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East. These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly. The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details,” Trump stated.
The plan’s opening segment is poised to address hostage releases foremost. Hamas signaled partial endorsement late Friday, aligning with provisions for conflict cessation, Israeli troop pullback, swaps of Israeli captives for Palestinian detainees, Gaza aid and rebuilding, and safeguards against Palestinian deportations. This came after Trump’s stark ultimatum: embrace the outline or confront “all hell.”
Trump further exhorted Hamas to “move quickly” for an Israeli accord to spare Gaza added ruin, while urging Israel to halt bombardments. Yet, shortly thereafter, an Israeli airstrike reportedly claimed six lives in Gaza. Trump later asserted Israel had endorsed initial retreat lines, with a truce to follow Hamas ratification.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced hope for a breakthrough, anticipating word on all Gaza hostages’ return “in the coming days.” Addressing citizens in Hebrew via video, he said: “My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, we are on the verge of a very great achievement. This is still not final. We are working on it diligently, and I hope that in the coming days, still during the holiday of Sukkot, I will be able to announce to you the return of all our hostages, the living and the dead. At the same time, the IDF remains in the depths of the Gaza Strip and in the areas controlling it.”
Netanyahu tempered optimism with resolve to dismantle Hamas’s arsenal, “the easy or the hard way,” and affirmed no total Israeli exit from Gaza—a core Hamas demand. “Israel’s military will continue to hold territories it controls in Gaza, and Hamas will be disarmed in the plan’s second phase, diplomatically, or through a military path by us. You heard Trump, he will not accept additional delay. In the second phase, Hamas will be disarmed, and Gaza will be demilitarised. This will happen either diplomatically through Trump’s plan or militarily by us. This will happen either the easy way or the hard way,” he declared.