US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning, declaring that the first phase of his Gaza peace plan must be completed within this week, or else “mass bloodshed will follow — something no one wants to see.”
According to Trump, high-level talks were held over the weekend between Hamas and Arab and Muslim nations, aimed at achieving hostage releases, a ceasefire, and lasting peace in the Middle East. The President stated on Truth Social that negotiations have been “very successful” and that technical teams will reconvene on Monday in Egypt to finalise details.
While Trump did not define what “Phase One” entails, sources believe it involves the initial release of hostages and steps toward de-escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that some hostages may be freed during the Sukkot holiday, which coincides with the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt for discussions on ceasefire mechanisms, Israeli troop withdrawal, and prisoner exchange arrangements. The group denied reports from Al Arabiya suggesting it had agreed to surrender weapons or collect hostages’ remains, calling them “false and baseless.”
As part of Trump’s peace initiative, Israel is expected to release 250 Palestinian security prisoners serving life sentences, along with more than 1,700 detainees from Gaza arrested during the ongoing conflict.
Trump concluded with an urgent appeal:
“Time is of the essence. Otherwise, mass bloodshed will follow — something no one wants to see.”
The American plan is seen as a last-ditch effort to end the two-year Gaza war and restore peace negotiations with the involvement of regional and international partners.
