Netanyahu's chilling 5-word warning to Hamas as ceasefire negotiations continue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday pledged, "there will be no Hamas" in postwar Gaza after Hamas indicated they are willing to consider a ceasefire with Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and called on Hamas to accept the deal before the situation deteriorates further. Trump has been applying pressure on both the Israeli government and Hamas to reach a ceasefire and hostage agreement, with the goal of ending the conflict.

Hamas said in a brief statement Wednesday that it had received a proposal from the mediators and is holding talks with them to "bridge gaps" to return to the negotiating table to try to reach a ceasefire agreement.

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In a social media post, Trump mentioned that his representatives had a "long and productive" discussion with Israeli officials regarding Gaza.

He did not specify who his representatives were, but it is known that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance were scheduled to meet with Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump said.

Trump told reporters earlier today that he is hopeful a ceasefire-for-hostages deal can be reached next week between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. He is scheduled to meet Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.

Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining hostages and open a new chapter in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel states it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. During this assault, 1,200 people were killed, and 251 hostages were taken, according to Israeli officials.

The conflict has devastated the coastal Palestinian area, destroying much of the urban landscape. Over 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, often multiple times. Additionally, the war has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people facing hunger.

News of the humanitarian crisis has compelled international awareness among the public as activists and celebrities show their support for the Palestinian people.

Last month, Israel deported Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, a day after the Gaza-bound aid boat she and 11 other people were on was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean.

Upon arriving at an airport in Paris, Greta Thunberg accused Israel of unlawfully kidnapping her and other activists from the boat while they were in international waters. France announced that five of the six French citizens detained with her had refused to sign their deportation orders and would now face legal proceedings.

The activist group, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which operates the yacht The Madleen, has called for the immediate release of all those detained. The vessel was intercepted while the activists attempted to deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Gaza, challenging Israel's maritime blockade and drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis there.