After reports that Israel had paused its bombing of Gaza as a US-brokered peace plan began to take effect, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (October 4) issued a stern warning to Hamas, urging the group to act quickly or face consequences.
“I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the Hostage release and Peace Deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let’s get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Kushner, Witkoff head to Egypt for talks
In the latest development, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and senior US envoy Steve Witkoff were headed to Egypt to finalise details of a possible hostage release, a White House official said. The move came after Hamas responded positively to a US-brokered plan to end two years of war.
Conflict’s heavy toll
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people, including combatants. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has since killed more than 66,000 Palestinians.
Hostage release and peace plan
Hamas has signalled readiness to release all hostages and discuss the 20-point peace plan put forward by Trump and backed by the UK, France, India, Saudi Arabia and others. Still, major issues remain unresolved, including Hamas’s disarmament, Israel’s withdrawal, and the exact timeline for implementation.
The plan requires all hostages—alive and deceased—to be freed within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the deal. But confusion remains over when that 72-hour window officially begins. Sources close to Hamas said living hostages could be released quickly, but recovering bodies from Gaza’s rubble may take longer.
Global pressure for deal
Previous ceasefires have collapsed with Israel resuming its offensive, but this time global pressure is mounting, with many accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Hamas has said it will engage “through mediators, in negotiations to discuss the details of this process.”