Trump Issues 'Last Warning' To Hamas Over Hostages

US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued what he described as a "last warning" to Hamas, urging the Palestinian group to accept a deal for the release of hostages in Gaza.

"The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning," Trump wrote on social media, without giving further details.

Shortly afterward, Hamas announced it was ready to "immediately sit at the negotiating table," citing "some ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement."

According to US outlet Axios, White House envoy Steve Witkoff recently sent Hamas a fresh proposal for a combined hostage release and ceasefire deal. While no details have been disclosed, Trump told reporters late Sunday that "you'll be hearing about it pretty soon," suggesting progress had been made.

"We had some very good discussions. Good things could happen," Trump said. "I think we're going to have a deal on Gaza very soon."

This is not the first time Trump has issued such an ultimatum. In March, he warned Hamas to free all hostages and return the bodies of the dead, declaring that otherwise "it is OVER for you."

Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed Trump’s renewed pressure, calling it a "true breakthrough."

Hamas fighters captured 251 people during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Forty-seven are still believed to be in Gaza, with Israel saying 25 of them are dead and demanding the return of their remains.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza intensified Sunday as Israel bombed a residential tower in Gaza City — the third strike of its kind in three days — following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to "deepen" the military assault.

Witness Mohammed Al-Nazli described the strike on the Al-Roya tower as feeling "like an earthquake." According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, at least 48 people were killed in the day’s attacks.

The Israeli military has also destroyed two other high-rises in recent days, claiming Hamas had used them as observation posts. Netanyahu said about 100,000 residents had already evacuated Gaza City, accusing Hamas of blocking departures and using civilians as "human shields."

The escalation has raised fears of worsening humanitarian conditions. On Saturday, Israeli protesters rallied against their government’s push into Gaza City, expressing concern over the safety of hostages believed to be held there.

The October 7 assault left 1,219 people dead in Israel, most of them civilians. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has since killed at least 64,368 Palestinians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry — numbers the United Nations deems credible, though they cannot be independently verified due to access restrictions.