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Donald Trump's ‘last warning’ to Hamas: ‘Accept hostage deal’
Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform that the Israelis have accepted his terms and that it was time for Hamas to do the same.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued what he called his "last warning" to Hamas, urging the Palestinian militant group to agree to a deal for releasing hostages from Gaza.
"The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well," Trump wrote in a post his Truth Social platform.
“I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”
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Later in the day, speaking to reporters, the US president stated that a deal for Gaza was near.
"I think we're going to have a deal on Gaza very soon. It's a hell of a problem... I think we're going to get [all the hostages]," said Trump, adding that the Gaza war is a problem "we want to solve for the Middle East, for Israel, for everyone."
Speaking on the remaining hostages in Gaza, Trump said the remaining hostages could be less than 20 as the war enters its 23rd month.
"So they [Hamas] have hostages, could be less than 20 because you know, they tend to die. Even though they are young people, largely, they are dying," said Trump.
'Young people don't die, they stay alive, but with this whole thing they tend to die...We have 20 people and about 38 bodies," the US president added further.
News agency Reuters, citing Israel's N12 News, has reported that Trump has put forth a new ceasefire proposal to Hamas on Saturday.
Under the deal, Hamas is to free all the remaining 48 hostages on the first day of the truce in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel and negotiate an end to the war during a ceasefire in the enclave, according to N12.
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An Israeli official, according to Reuters, said that Israel is "seriously considering" Trump's proposal but did not elaborate.
On Sunday, Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar said that the war in Gaza could end if Hamas released the hostages and laid down its weapons.
His statements during a press conference with his Danish counterpart in Jerusalem come a day after Hamas reiterated its long-standing position that it would free all hostages if Israel agreed to an end to the war and withdraw its forces from Gaza City.
