Trump gives Hamas 48-hour deadline to return American casualties

US President Donald Trump has delivered a 48-hour ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the return of two American casualties' remains and warning of potential military action if the deadline passes without compliance. The president asserted that Hamas has failed to return recoverable casualties despite previous agreements, suggesting the delay might relate to ongoing disarmament negotiations.

Ceasefire Compliance and Consequences

Trump stated that Hamas "should start quickly returning the bodies of deceased hostages," warning that "otherwise other countries involved in this 'great peace' will take action" if the Palestinian group fails to meet the 48-hour deadline. The president emphasized he was "following this situation very closely" and would monitor Hamas's actions over the next two days, noting that fair treatment of both sides depended on fulfilling obligations under the ceasefire agreement.

Stabilization Force Deployment Timeline

When questioned about deploying an international stabilization force to Gaza, Trump responded it would happen "quite quickly," though he declined to specify exact timing. The president noted that "they are currently selecting leaders" for the force while expressing optimism about Middle East peace prospects, characterizing the current ceasefire as "a great success" that could potentially last indefinitely and represent "real peace" unlike any achieved in the region over three millennia.

Broader Ceasefire Context

The ultimatum comes amid ongoing implementation of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire that took effect earlier this month. Trump has repeatedly characterized the agreement as a historic achievement while maintaining pressure on all parties to fulfill their commitments. The demand for returning American casualties represents one of several outstanding issues in the complex post-conflict arrangements being negotiated between Israel, Hamas, and international mediators.