The Gaza Area
On October 3, local time, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a “final notice” that Hamas must agree to an “20-point plan” to end the conflict in Gaza and rebuild Gaza before 18:00 AM on October 5 (Beijing time) or face “an unprecedented hellish blow”.
Trump sets deadline for Hamas to agree to '20-point plan'
△ U.S. President Trump (data map)
Trump said in a tweet on social media that the “20-point plan” was Hamas’s “last chance,” urging Hamas to accept the agreement before 18:00 AM, while threatening that in retaliation for the October 7, 2023, more than 25,000 Hamas militants had been killed, and most of the rest had been surrounded, only under his order, “their lives will end quickly.”
Trump also called on Palestinians to "immediately leave this area, which may face greater danger, and move to a safer place in the Gaza Strip." He also said that the United States, countries in the Middle East and surrounding regions agreed to achieve peace in the Middle East if Israel signed the agreement.
Trump said he believed Hamas was ready to lasting peace. He called on Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza in order to safely and quickly rescue hostages, and said the current situation was too dangerous and the details had been discussed. Trump stressed that this is not just about Gaza but about the peace that the entire Middle East has long sought.
Contents of the "20-point plan"
Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on September 29 and announced that Israel accepted the "20-point plan." According to White House documents, the "20-point plan" requires Hamas to release all detainees within 72 hours after Israel publicly accepts the plan; Israel allows international humanitarian aid to enter Gaza after all hostages are released; Gaza is temporarily managed by the Technical Expert Committee under international supervision; Gaza launches the demilitarization process, Hamas disarms and is not allowed to participate in Gaza's governance; Israel sets up a buffer zone in Gaza and withdraws its troops in phases. However, the plan does not set a clear and binding timetable for a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal, and many conditions have been rejected by Hamas before.
Hamas: Prepare to release hostages, Israel will not disarm until it ends occupation
△ After Hamas submitted its response to the "20-point plan", Gaza people took to the streets to celebrate
Later on the 3rd, Hamas issued a statement announcing that it would submit a response to Trump's "20-point plan" to the mediator and expressed its willingness to negotiate through the mediator to implement the relevant plan.
The statement said that in order to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the full withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip, the organization agreed to release all Israeli hostages and deliver the bodies of the victims in accordance with Trump’s proposal, provided that the necessary conditions for the exchange were met.
It was agreed to transfer the management of the Gaza Strip to an independent Palestinian body (technocracy), the statement said. Other issues in Trump's proposal related to the future of the Gaza Strip and the inherent rights of the Palestinian people will be discussed within the Palestinian national framework, and Hamas will also participate in it and make a responsible contribution to it.
Regarding whether Israel could hand over the remains of living hostages and victims within 72 hours, a member of the Hamas Politburo said that it was unrealistic under the current circumstances. In addition, regarding disarmament, a senior Hamas official said that Hamas will not disarm until Israel ends its occupation.
The Palestinian president promises to hold general elections within a year after the end of the conflict
Palestinian President Abbas (Map)
On the 3rd, Palestinian President Abbas said that the Palestinian people are going through a critical stage that requires unity. Abbas promised to hold presidential and legislative council elections within a year after the end of the conflict and complete the formulation of the country's interim constitution within three months as the basis for the transfer of power to the country.
Abbas also said that any political force that is not committed to the "two-state solution" is prohibited from participating in the election.
UN Secretary-General calls for seizing opportunity to end Gaza conflict
United Nations Secretary-General Guterres (data map)
On the 3rd, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement through a spokesman, welcoming Hamas 'statement that it is prepared to release hostages and is willing to engage on the basis of Trump's recent proposal. The Secretary-General calls on all parties to seize this opportunity to end the tragic conflict in Gaza.
He reiterated the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and the unhindered access of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Israeli army has continued its attack on Gaza, saying 870,000 people have evacuated.
Local time, Gaza City
The Israeli military continued its military operations in Gaza City, north of the Gaza Strip.The Gaza Strip Health Department issued a statement on the 3rd that the Israeli military operation that day in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 72 Palestinians, 42 of whom died in Gaza City.
Moreover, according to data released by the Israeli army on October 3, more than 870,000 Palestinians have evacuated from Gaza City to the south of the Gaza Strip. Approximately 1 million people lived in Gaza City before the Israeli military launched the offensive. Israeli Defense Minister Katz said on October 1 that the Israeli army is gradually completing the full siege of Gaza City, which is the “last chance” for Gaza City residents to evacuate south, and those who remain in Gaza City will be considered “terrorists and their supporters.”