President Donald Trump stated on Monday that “the time has come” for Hamas to agree to a peace agreement, as he seeks to mediate a comprehensive deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza and beginning the region’s reconstruction.
“It is time for Hamas to accept the terms of the plan we have presented today,” Trump said, adding that there may now be new willingness following months of heavy casualties.
“This is a different Hamas than the one we were dealing with, because more than 20,000 people have been killed. Their leadership has been eliminated three times, so you are dealing with different people than those we faced over the past four or five years,” he continued.
Trump claimed that Israel and other regional allies had agreed to his 20-point proposal, but stressed that convincing Hamas to sign on remains the crucial step. He previously warned that if Hamas rejects the deal, the United States will continue to back Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
“If Hamas rejects the agreement, which is always possible, they will be the only ones left to blame,” Trump said, addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“But if not, you will have full support to do what must be done.”
