Washington, DC [US]: US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas, saying the group could face “complete obliteration” if it insists on maintaining control over Gaza and blocks progress on his proposed 20-point ceasefire plan, CNN reported.
Trump made the remarks while responding to questions about his ceasefire proposal. When asked what would happen if Hamas refused to step down, he replied bluntly, “Complete Obliteration!”
The warning comes ahead of critical negotiations between Israel and Hamas scheduled for Monday in Egypt. Trump has dispatched his son-in-law Jared Kushner and top West Asia negotiator Steve Witkoff to Cairo to lead US efforts, alongside an Israeli delegation working to finalize the agreement.
Addressing Senator Lindsey Graham’s claim that Hamas had already rejected the plan by refusing to disarm and seeking full control of Gaza, Trump said, “We will find out. Only time will tell!!!”
Earlier this week, Trump confirmed that Israel had agreed to the first withdrawal line under his plan, which includes a phased Israeli pullback, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and the disarmament of Hamas. He added that Hamas’s confirmation would trigger an “immediate” ceasefire.
“After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shared with Hamas,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “When Hamas confirms, the ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the hostages and prisoner exchange will begin, and we will create conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, bringing us close to the end of this 3,000-year catastrophe.”
Trump also confirmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support, saying, “Yes on Bibi.” He noted that Israel had temporarily paused airstrikes on Gaza, a step seen as critical to finalizing the agreement.
However, Al Jazeera reported that at least 70 Palestinians, including seven children aged between two months and eight years, were killed in Israeli airstrikes the same day, shortly after Trump called for an immediate halt to bombing following Hamas’s initial positive response.
In a video posted on Truth Social on Friday, Trump described Hamas’s response as “a big day” and characterized the developments as “unprecedented.”
