United States President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he had delivered a clear message to Hamas: disarm the terror group or face the consequences. The declaration came just a day after Hamas released the last remaining Israeli hostages being held in Gaza under a fragile ceasefire agreement negotiated by Trump’s administration.
In exchange, Israel reciprocated by releasing hundreds of Palestinian detainees, a dramatic but fragile step toward ending months of intense violence between Israel and Hamas. Yet despite the exchange, Hamas has yet to publicly commit to disarming or dismantling its military infrastructure — a key component of Trump’s potential peace proposal.
Trump’s Peace Push and the Disarmament Demand
Speaking to the media at the White House, Trump said his administration had spoken directly and indirectly to Hamas leaders to ensure compliance with the terms of the ceasefire.
I spoke to Hamas, I said, ‘You’re going to disarm, right?'” Trump recounted. “They said, ‘Yes, sir, we’re going to disarm.'” That’s what they told me,” he said, adding that his message had been communicated through intermediaries since the United States has no official contacts with Hamas.
The call for disarmament is included in Trump’s 20-point Middle East peace plan, which calls for steps by both sides to stabilize Gaza and the wider region. The plan reportedly includes provisions for international control, humanitarian reconstruction, and phased economic integration of Gaza into a broader framework if security goals are met.
Ceasefire Strains and Renewed Violence
Despite all the symbolic breakthroughs, the situation on the ground remains unstable. As Trump departed the region after visits to Israel and Egypt, signs of renewed instability emerged. Israel tightened restrictions on aid deliveries into Gaza on Tuesday and kept border crossings closed, citing ongoing security concerns.
At the same time, there were reports from Gaza that armed Hamas factions have re-emerged in various neighborhoods, publicly executing suspected collaborators and members of rival militias. The moves by the group have called into question its readiness to give up arms or control of the enclave.
Trump, however, appeared to endorse Hamas’s internal security efforts as part of reconstructing order, saying the organization’s drive to eliminate rival factions could stabilize Gaza within the terms of the truce. Critics, including international human rights organizations, have condemned the violence, warning that such killings undermine prospects for lasting peace.
Regional Reaction and International Concerns
The Trump-brokered ceasefire has been greeted with mixed reactions across the Middle East. Egyptian and Qatari leaders, whose officials played a key role in mediating talks between Hamas and Israel, have been guardedly hopeful but also warned that any failure by Hamas to disarm would restart full-scale combat.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism from within his coalition by hardline members, who view the deal as a concession to Hamas. Other members of the Israeli government have cautiously welcomed the hostages’ release but are skeptical of Hamas’s interest in complying with Trump’s conditions for peace.
A Fragile Path Forward
Trump’s Gaza diplomatic gamble is part of his administration’s broader push to reassert United States influence in Middle East peace negotiations — a role that had diminished in recent years, analysts say. The success of his effort, however, hinges on whether Hamas indeed adheres to the disarmament pledge and whether Israel allows humanitarian and reconstruction efforts to proceed without obstruction.
U.S. officials reported on Tuesday that further negotiations are expected later this week in Cairo to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire, for example, the possible deployment of international monitors and the gradual opening of Gaza’s border crossings.
For now, the ceasefire is fragile. While the release of hostages is an uncommon occurrence of relief for families on both sides, the absence of an agreed-upon disarmament process and continued violence on the battlefield threaten to derail what could otherwise have been a tremendous diplomatic win for the Trump administration.
