Gaza, May 31, 2025: Israel has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas: accept the latest hostage deal or face total destruction. The warning came as U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a Gaza ceasefire agreement was “very close,” raising hopes for an end to the nearly 20-month-long war.
Speaking Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Hamas must accept the “Witkoff Deal”, a ceasefire and hostage-release proposal presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. “The Hamas murderers will now be forced to choose: accept the terms of the deal, or be annihilated,” Katz declared. He added that Israel’s goal remains the complete dismantling of Hamas.
In Washington, President Donald Trump told reporters that a Gaza truce deal was within reach. “They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza,” he said. “We’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow.” The White House confirmed that Israel had signed off on the proposed ceasefire, while Hamas stated it was still “holding consultations” and had not rejected the plan outright.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian agency, called Gaza “the hungriest place on Earth,” warning that the entire population is now at risk of famine. Aid delivery remains severely restricted, even after Israel partially eased its blockade earlier this month.
Adding to the chaos, the UN reported that armed individuals looted large quantities of medical supplies, including aid meant for malnourished children. Aid groups have warned that food scarcity and collapsing infrastructure are pushing Gaza toward lawlessness.
On Friday, at least 45 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including seven in a single strike on a family home in Jabalia. Heart-wrenching scenes played out at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, where survivors described “children in pieces.”
“These were civilians, sleeping at home,” said local resident Mahmud al-Ghaf, who witnessed the aftermath. “Stop the war!” pleaded Mahmud Nasr, who lost multiple family members. “We do not want anything from you — just stop the war.”
The Hamas-run health ministry reported that 4,058 people have been killed since Israel resumed operations on March 18. The total death toll since the war began in 2023 now stands at 54,321, mostly civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas in its initial attack, 57 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead by Israeli authorities.
Simultaneously, Israel has announced plans for 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, drawing international condemnation. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a direct obstacle to peace and reiterated support for a two-state solution, describing recognition of Palestinian statehood as both a “moral duty and political necessity.”
In response, Israel’s foreign ministry accused Macron of launching a “crusade against the Jewish state”, while Defence Minister Katz pledged to build a “Jewish Israeli state” across the West Bank — territory Israel has occupied since 1967.
The UN and UK criticized the move, calling it a blow to regional peace efforts.
In a potential diplomatic breakthrough, a source told AFP that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan will visit the West Bank on Sunday — a first-of-its-kind visit that could signal a shift in regional engagement amid ongoing hostilities.
