‘Lay down weapons or you will be annihilated’: After Trump, Israel’s ultimatum to Hamas over hostage release

Earlier, Hamas released a statement asserting that it was ready to "immediately sit at the negotiating table to discuss the release of all prisoners..."

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: September 8, 2025 01:37 PM IST

The US president, on Sunday, said that he was giving Hamas, what he called his “last warning” to accept a deal to free hostages held in Gaza. (Photo/AP)

A day after Trump’s “last warning”, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz Monday warned Hamas group to release hostages and lay down weapons or “a powerful hurricane will strike in the skies of Gaza City, and the roofs of the towers of terror will shake.”

Katz’s remarks also come after Hamas expressed its readiness to return to the negotiating table for a ceasefire deal in Gaza, following the US President’s call to end the Israel-Hamas war which included a warning to the Palestinian militant group on the “consequences” of not accepting his terms.

“This is the last warning to the murderers and rapists of Hamas in Gaza, and in luxury hotels abroad: Release the hostages, and put down your weapons — or Gaza will be destroyed and you will be obliterated,” he wrote in a post on X.

“The IDF is continuing with its plans — and we are preparing to expand the manoeuvre to defeat Gaza,” he added.

Trump, in his warning on Sunday, said that he was giving Hamas, what he called his “last warning” to accept a deal to free hostages held in Gaza. “Everyone wants the Hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” he said. “I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”

Earlier on Saturday, Israel’s N12 News reported that Trump has put forward a new ceasefire proposal.

According to the report, Hamas would release all 48 remaining hostages, living and dead, on the first day of a truce in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The deal would also include negotiations on ending the war during the ceasefire.

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Hamas expresses readiness to negotiate Gaza ceasefire deal

Underlining its key demands, the rebel group released a statement asserting that it was ready to “immediately sit at the negotiating table to discuss the release of all prisoners in exchange for a clear declaration to end the war, a total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and creation of a committee of independent Palestinians to run the Gaza Strip.”

It acknowledged receiving “some ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire” and welcomed “any move that helps the efforts to stop the aggression against our people”.

The militant group further said that it was in constant contact with the “mediators to turn these ideas into a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands.”

(With inputs from The Times of Israel)

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