Trump Warns Hamas to Accept Gaza Deal or ‘Pay in Hell’

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a blunt ultimatum to Hamas on Tuesday, warning that the terror group has “three or four days” to sign onto a U.S.-brokered Gaza peace proposal or “pay in hell.” The statement, made at the White House before traveling to Quantico, Virginia, underscores growing American pressure on Hamas to end the war on Israel’s terms.

“We have one signature that we need,” Trump said. “And that signature will pay in hell if they don’t sign. I hope they sign for their own good and create something really great.” The 20-point plan, developed in coordination with Israeli and Arab leaders, was formally presented at the White House on Monday alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Under the deal, all 48 remaining hostages at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive must be released within 72 hours of signing. The plan also outlines a demilitarized Gaza governed by a technocratic transitional administration, with amnesty for disarmed Hamas fighters who lay down their weapons.

While Israel has endorsed the plan, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expressed caution during a visit to Serbia, noting Hamas’s history of stalling and manipulation. “They usually try to open and close, to change the terms, to escape implementation,” he warned. “But we will see.”

The Biden administration had previously struggled to unify regional actors, but Trump’s entry into the negotiations appears to have rallied broad Arab support, including from Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan. A spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Hamas had only received the proposal Monday night and was reviewing it.

The Trump administration has positioned the proposal as the last viable path to peace in Gaza that avoids further escalation. “Not much” room remains for negotiation, Trump told reporters, signaling that the U.S. intends to hold Hamas accountable for any delay or refusal.

Meanwhile, Israel maintains its war aims: the complete dismantling of Hamas’s terror infrastructure, the return of all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza can never again pose a threat to Israeli civilians. With the Netzarim Corridor now under full IDF control, Hamas is increasingly isolated in northern Gaza.

Whether Hamas will yield to Trump’s ultimatum remains uncertain. But the international pressure is mounting, and the costs of further defiance for both the group and the civilians it endangers grow with each passing day.

Israel stands ready for peace but not at the cost of its security or the freedom of its hostages. Share this story and subscribe to our newsletter for updates as events unfold.