WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump gave a clear message in an interview with CNN that Hamas has a choice: accept a ceasefire or face total destruction. He said that if Hamas accepts the deal, Israel is ready to halt operations in Gaza and withdraw early, and that the process of exchanging prisoners and hostages will begin immediately after the ceasefire.
Trump said that the White House is taking all possible steps to make the deal a reality and is only waiting for Hamas to decide. He indicated that time will tell what Hamas chooses, but he also said that accepting the deal would be in Hamas’ best interest.
To be honest, such statements are often part of increasing pressure and paving the way for negotiations. Trump made it clear that if Hamas rejects the deal, the consequences could be serious, while its approval could also prove to be the beginning of peace and tranquility.
Regional and international observers believe that the next few days will be crucial. If Hamas comes to the negotiating table, immediate humanitarian aid and prisoner releases are possible, but if the negotiations fail, military operations could escalate, with far-reaching humanitarian and political consequences.
