=Speculation Mounts Over Looming Trump Ultimatum: Ditch Hamas and Reap the Rewards—or Face the Consequences. Meanwhile, rising tensions between the Netanyahu Government and the IDF Chief of Staff, who Balks at Directive to Conquer the Gaza Strip. The next 36 hours may prove decisive.

A political thunderclap may be on the way for Gaza. According to multiple sources close to President Donald Trump’s inner circle, preparations are underway for a high-profile address that could radically alter the trajectory of the war between Israel and Hamas. The speech—expected in the coming days—will reportedly offer the people of Gaza a binary choice: remove Hamas from power and receive massive American-led investment and reconstruction assistance, or continue to shelter terrorists and face devastating consequences.

While still unconfirmed, the possibility of a Gaza ultimatum would mark the most consequential shift in U.S. policy toward the Strip since October 7, when Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdering 1,200 people and dragging more than 250 hostages into the tunnels of Gaza.

“President Trump is not in the business of rewarding terrorists,” a source close to his policy team told Newsmax. “But he is absolutely interested in rewarding people who choose peace, stability, and the kind of future that serves their children—not fanatics with foreign agendas.”

Though no official draft of the speech has been leaked, the structure of Trump’s potential offer appears clear: a sweeping carrot-and-stick approach that distinguishes between Hamas and the broader Palestinian population. If Hamas is ousted, Gaza would become eligible for unprecedented development funds, backed by American political will, Gulf-state investment, and Israeli support. But if Hamas remains entrenched, then Gaza can expect no mercy.

A Vision for Post-Hamas Gaza?

The details of the Trump proposal may sound familiar. During his presidency, Trump spearheaded the Abraham Accords, normalizing ties between Israel and key Arab states, and unveiling the most ambitious peace framework in decades. His “Peace to Prosperity” plan envisioned a future Palestinian economy modeled after Singapore or Dubai—with Gaza functioning as a modernized coastal hub of trade, tourism, and innovation, provided it demilitarized and recognized Israel’s sovereignty.

Though that vision was rejected at the time by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, circumstances have shifted dramatically. Gaza is now in ruins, and many Gazans—if given a real choice—might prefer reconstruction and reintegration over endless war.

“Trump’s genius is offering a future they’ve never been offered before,” said former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman in an interview last month. “But the only way to unlock that future is to remove Hamas. No other path is possible.”

Indeed, Trump’s likely message would echo the basic premise that has guided Israel’s military campaign since October: Hamas is not a legitimate governing body but a genocidal jihadist group that must be dismantled.

And unlike President Biden—who has wavered, criticized Israeli actions, and attempted to impose “red lines” on its war effort—Trump is expected to deliver a clear ultimatum: We’ll help you build, but only if you break free from Hamas.

Money Talks—But Only After the Guns Are Silent

If Trump does make this offer, it would not be without precedent. Under his administration, the U.S. cut off hundreds of millions of dollars to UNRWA and other Palestinian organizations until reforms were undertaken. At the same time, Trump courted Arab investment in the West Bank and Gaza, with Emirati and Saudi business leaders floating potential projects ranging from solar infrastructure to high-tech job training.

“If Hamas is gone, Gaza could get $20 billion within five years,” said one Gulf source involved in postwar planning. “But only if America stands behind it—and Trump is the only one who can make that happen.”

The carrot is clear: foreign direct investment, energy infrastructure, desalinization plants, and tech-sector employment. The stick is equally blunt: diplomatic isolation, financial starvation, and Israeli military domination until Hamas is no more.

Israeli Backing—and Pressure

Jerusalem is watching Trump’s next move closely. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long believed in Trump’s instincts on the Middle East and worked hand-in-hand with his administration during the Abraham Accords and the U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem.

Officials close to Netanyahu said Israel would “fully support” any Trump initiative that aligned with its goal of ending Hamas’s rule in Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz has made clear that “total victory” is the only acceptable outcome, and Trump’s carrot-and-stick proposal may offer the best combination of military deterrence and long-term development.

Channel 12’s Amit Segal reported this week that key figures in Israel’s war cabinet have been briefed on the possibility of a major American policy shift under Trump, and are hopeful that it could create a turning point—both diplomatically and on the battlefield.

A Message to the Arab World

Trump’s anticipated speech is not just a message to Gaza. It’s also a message to Qatar, Turkey, and Iran—all of whom bankroll or shelter Hamas leaders—and to the broader Arab street.

The implicit warning is this: Hamas is finished. Either help dismantle it and rebuild Gaza—or be sidelined as others do so.

Moreover, Trump’s team is said to be exploring mechanisms to guarantee that Hamas leaders cannot re-enter postwar Gaza, potentially with coordination from Egypt and Jordan. Gaza’s political future, in this vision, would be shaped by local leaders—businesspeople, civic figures, and moderates—chosen by Gazans, not by gunmen in tunnels or exiles in Doha.

Cabinet Clash in Jerusalem

Meanwhile, back in Israel, political tensions are mounting over the next phase of the war. In a tense and unusually blunt meeting on Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reportedly laid out his opposition to a full-scale conquest of Gaza. Instead, he proposed a more limited siege model—focusing on cutting off specific strategic areas such as Rafah and Deir al-Balah, without launching a massive ground invasion into the heart of those zones.

According to accounts from multiple media outlets, Zamir cautioned against overstretching the IDF and warned of long-term instability if Israel moves to permanently occupy the entire Strip. But Prime Minister Netanyahu, joined by Defense Minister Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, rejected the scaled-down proposal and insisted on advancing toward what they call “operational completion”—the full dismantling of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities across all of Gaza.

The dispute is now heading for a decisive vote within the next 48 hours. Some political observers have speculated that if Zamir’s position is overridden, he may consider stepping down—or, in an extreme scenario, could be dismissed. However, most analysts believe he will ultimately fall in line with the cabinet’s decision, even if reluctantly.

As one senior Israeli official put it: “The IDF doesn’t set policy. The government does. And we’re now at the moment of decision.”

With Trump’s potential ultimatum looming, and the Israeli war cabinet nearing a historic decision of its own, the stakes for Gaza’s future—both in war and in peace—have never been higher.