- Two Palestinian gunmen killed six and wounded at least 11 at a Jerusalem bus stop, one of the city’s deadliest attacks in years.
- Hamas praised the attackers while Israel vowed retaliation and launched fresh raids in the West Bank.
- U.S. President Donald Trump issued a “last warning” to Hamas, pushing a ceasefire-for-hostages deal.
- Israel threatened a “mighty hurricane” of airstrikes on Gaza unless Hamas surrendered and freed all captives.
Washington/Jerusalem/Gaza — U.S. President Donald Trump has issued what he called his “last warning” to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages in exchange for a ceasefire deal, in a move that could either end the Gaza war or plunge the region into its bloodiest escalation yet.
Trump’s ultimatum, delivered on Sunday, came just hours before two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a Jerusalem bus stop, killing six and wounding eleven. The attack — one of the deadliest in recent years — underscored the volatility of the moment and the high stakes of Trump’s diplomatic gamble.
Trump at the Center of the Crisis
Speaking to reporters after returning to Washington from New York, Trump hinted that a breakthrough deal might be close. “We’re working on a solution that may be very good,” he said. “You’ll be hearing about it pretty soon. We’re trying to get it ended, get the hostages back.”
On his Truth Social platform, however, Trump’s language was more severe: “The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning — there will not be another one!”
Trump’s National Guard Deployments: A Strategic Sacrifice to Secure America’s Cities
According to Israeli media, Trump’s proposal calls for Hamas to release all 48 remaining hostages — living and dead — on the first day of a ceasefire, in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Negotiations over an end to the war would follow during the truce.
An Israeli official confirmed the country was “seriously considering” the proposal, while Hamas said it was reviewing U.S. ideas delivered through mediators. But Hamas reiterated that it would not agree to any deal without a “clear announcement of an end to the war” and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The Jerusalem Attack
Hours after Trump’s ultimatum, violence erupted in Jerusalem. Israeli police said two Palestinians from the occupied West Bank drove to Ramot Junction and opened fire on commuters.
Videos from the scene showed people running for cover as bullets shattered bus windows and bodies lay on the pavement. A woman in her fifties and five men — including three in their thirties — were killed. Eleven others were injured, six critically.
“I heard the shots and thought I would not make it,” said survivor Ester Lugasi, speaking from her hospital bed.
Israeli forces killed both attackers and later launched raids in Ramallah. Hamas praised the shooters as “resistance fighters” but stopped short of formally claiming responsibility. Islamic Jihad also hailed the assault.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the scene, pledged harsh retaliation. “We will find those who helped these murderers, and they will pay a heavy price,” he said.
Israel Threatens a “Mighty Hurricane”
Even before the Jerusalem shooting, Israel was preparing for a dramatic escalation. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on X: “A mighty hurricane will hit the skies of Gaza City today, and the roofs of the terror towers will shake. Release the hostages and lay down your weapons — or Gaza will be destroyed, and you will be annihilated.”
By Monday evening, Gaza residents reported heavy bombardments across multiple districts. Explosives-laden armored vehicles were detonated, leveling homes in the Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun, and Tuffah neighborhoods. At least 12 Palestinians, including journalist Osama Balousha, were killed. Gaza’s health ministry also reported that six children had died of malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing starvation-related deaths to nearly 400 in two months.
Trump’s Diplomatic Gamble
For Trump, the Jerusalem attack only sharpened the urgency of his “last warning.” The U.S. president has made hostage recovery a central priority of his second term, framing it as both a humanitarian mission and a test of American influence.
“I think we’re going to get them all,” Trump told reporters, though he acknowledged some may already have died. “The aim is to bring them home — living or not.”
His proposal has been described by Israeli commentators as the boldest American intervention since the war began. Unlike previous mediators, Trump has tied Israel’s agreement to sweeping concessions, including a potential mass release of Palestinian prisoners — a move that could reshape the political landscape across the region.
A War With No End in Sight
The war, now in its third year, began in October 2023 when Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 and abducting more than 250 hostages. Temporary truces in late 2023 and early 2025 saw the release of many, but 48 remain in Gaza.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 63,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and left much of the enclave in ruins. Israel disputes those figures, but independent monitors say the humanitarian toll is catastrophic. Nearly 250 journalists have been killed, making it the deadliest conflict for the press in modern history.
Mediation efforts have repeatedly collapsed over fundamental disagreements. Israel insists Hamas must surrender and free all hostages, while Hamas demands statehood guarantees and a permanent end to hostilities.
What Comes Next
The convergence of Trump’s ultimatum, Israel’s threat of a “mighty hurricane,” and Hamas’s refusal to disarm has created the most fragile moment of the war yet. The Jerusalem bus stop shooting has only deepened the sense of instability.
The question now is whether Trump’s “last warning” forces a breakthrough or triggers a new cycle of bloodshed. For Israelis, the attack has reinforced fears of more violence on their streets. For Palestinians in Gaza, the looming threat of annihilation is becoming an everyday reality.
For Trump, the stakes could not be higher: success would mark his boldest diplomatic triumph, failure his gravest setback.