US President Donald Trump has warned that Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if it refuses to give up power in Gaza. His comments came in a text exchange with CNN’s Jake Tapper, where he insisted that Hamas must step aside for his 20-point cease-fire plan to move forward.
Donald Trump’s hardline warning to Hamas
Asked what would happen if the group clings to power, Trump replied, “Complete obliteration!” He added that only time will reveal whether Hamas is serious about peace. During the conversation, Tapper pressed Trump on Hamas’ response to his 20-point proposal, referencing Senator Lindsey Graham’s view that the group had effectively rejected the plan by demanding “no disarmament, keeping Gaza under Palestinian control and tying hostage release to negotiations.”
“Is he wrong?” Tapper asked. “We will find out. Only time will tell!!!” Trump responded, adding that he expects clarity “soon” on Hamas’s intention. “Yes on Bibi,” Trump said when asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fully supports ending the bombing and supporting the president’s vision for Gaza.
Israel’s position and tense call with Netanyahu
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said that Israel had agreed to the initial withdrawal line according to his proposal for Israel and Hamas. In a post on social media, Trump said the administration is now waiting for confirmation from Hamas. If the group agrees, he added, a ceasefire would be “immediately effective,” and a hostage and prisoner exchange would begin.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Hamas has agreed in principle to the framework for releasing hostages. He called this an “enormous achievement.” Rubio added, “I’m not telling you here that these are people I trust 100% nor should we. But they have said basically that they agree to his proposal and the framework for releasing the hostages. “
“After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE. Thank you for your attention to this matter and STAY TUNED!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports his ceasefire vision, though differences remain. Reports suggest Trump grew frustrated during a call with Netanyahu, asking him to stop being “so negative” and to welcome the deal as a win. “I don’t know why you’re always so negative. This is a win. Take it,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, Axios reported.’ Israeli officials, however, downplayed any rift, according to Times of Israel.
Netanyahu has since stated that no further steps will be taken until all hostages, living and deceased, are released. He also warned that if Hamas delays beyond the time Trump has allotted, Israel will resume its military offensive with international support.
Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt released a joint statement welcoming Hamas’ “readiness” to cooperate with Trump’s plan. Delegations from Israel, Hamas, the US, and Arab mediators are now heading to Cairo for the most consequential talks since the war began in October 2023. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and senior Qatari officials will join the discussions.
If successful, the plan would see 48 hostages released, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners freed, and the first steps toward ending nearly two years of war. Since the conflict started after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw over 250 hostages taken, more than 67,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli operations, according to Gaza’s health ministry.