US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Hamas on Wednesday, demanding the immediate release of all hostages and the return of the bodies of those murdered. The warning was delivered via his Truth Social account.
“Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump wrote. He added, “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.” Trump also urged Hamas leadership to leave Gaza and told the people of Gaza that “a beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”
Trump’s ultimatum coincided with reactions to an Arab-backed Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza.
Hamas announced its support on Tuesday for the Arab-backed Egyptian plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip, urging measures to ensure its success. In a statement, Hamas said: “We welcome the Arab Summit’s plan to rebuild Gaza and call for all necessary steps to guarantee its success. We also appreciate Egypt’s efforts in preparing for an international conference on reconstruction.”
However, Israel and the United States dismissed the plan. The Israeli government reaffirmed its support for Trump’s proposal, which calls for relocating Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt—an idea Arab nations have firmly rejected. Israel criticised the summit’s reliance on the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), accusing them of corruption and ties to terrorism. Additionally, Israel denounced the Cairo Summit’s final statement, arguing that it failed to account for “the realities on the ground following October 7.” Israeli officials urged regional leaders to “move beyond outdated policies and work toward lasting stability and security.”
The White House also opposed the Arab plan for Gaza reconstruction. A spokesperson from the US National Security Council stated: “The published Arab plan does not address the current situation; Gaza is uninhabitable, and its residents cannot live with dignity in an area filled with unexploded ordnance and rubble.” The spokesperson added: “President Donald Trump remains committed to his vision of rebuilding Gaza free of Hamas,” and expressed hopes for further discussions to promote stability and peace in the region.
The final statement of the Arab Summit condemned the Israeli government’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and to close the crossings used for relief work. It emphasized that these Israeli measures violate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and international humanitarian law. The statement reaffirmed the rejection of Israel’s use of blockade and starvation of civilians as a means to achieve political objectives. It stressed the need for Israel to adhere to relevant resolutions of international legitimacy and reiterated the Arab countries’ rejection of attempts to alter the demographic composition of the Palestinian territories.
Arab leaders reaffirmed their strategic choice to pursue a just and comprehensive peace that respects all rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to freedom and an independent sovereign state on their land based on the two-state solution, as well as the right of return for Palestinian refugees. This approach aims to ensure security for all peoples and countries in the region, including Israel.
