Trump starts the Gaza peace countdown, Hamas under the clock

US President Donald Trump has set a strict three-to-four-day deadline for Hamas to respond to his 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the 23-month war in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn, Trump said all other parties including Israel and Arab nations, have signed on, leaving Hamas as the last obstacle.

Trump warned that if Hamas rejects the proposal, “it’s going to be a very sad end,” and pledged full US backing for Israel to act as it sees fit, without specifying the measures. “With Hamas, it’s very simple,” he added. “We want the hostages back immediately and we want some good behaviour.”

The plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours of an agreement, and a phased Israeli troop withdrawal. It also demands Hamas disarm—an element the group has previously rejected without guarantees of Palestinian statehood.

Qatar, which hosts the Hamas political bureau, said the group is studying the proposal responsibly, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apology for a recent strike on Qatari soil. Netanyahu, who supports the plan, has insisted Israeli forces will remain in most of Gaza.

The US-backed initiative faces internal challenges. Key Israeli ministers, including far-right hardliner Bezalel Smotrich, have criticised it, calling the plan a “resounding diplomatic failure.” Meanwhile, Palestinians in the West Bank have urged action, highlighting the urgency of the conflict.