President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Tuesday, saying the United States would “disarm Hamas quickly and perhaps violently” if the group does not voluntarily lay down its weapons, even as a fragile ceasefire in Gaza showed signs of strain.
Speaking at the White House alongside Argentine President Javier Milei, Trump said he had received “verbal assurances” from Hamas leaders that they would begin disarming under a newly signed 20-point peace framework — but offered no specific timeline.
“I hope they’ll do the right thing,” Trump told reporters. “If they don’t, we will.”
The remarks mark the strongest signal yet that Washington is prepared to take a direct role in enforcing the Gaza peace plan, though Trump offered few details on what U.S. intervention might entail. Vice President JD Vance reiterated later that “no American troops will be deployed in Gaza,” but confirmed that a small U.S. logistics team has arrived in Israel to coordinate elements of the plan.
A Plan with Lofty Promises — and Lingering Questions
The 20-point framework, made public last week, offers amnesty to Hamas fighters who surrender their weapons and pledge to renounce violence. It also mandates the destruction of Hamas’s military infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons factories, and rocket stockpiles, under international supervision.
A key element of the plan involves a monitored “demilitarization of Gaza,” financed by an internationally backed arms buyback program. The process is to be overseen by neutral inspectors and supported by Arab and Western donors. However, diplomats admit that the specifics — such as who will conduct the monitoring and how weapons collection will be verified — remain unresolved.
Truce Strains on the Ground
Even as the agreement took effect, the situation in Gaza remained volatile. Israeli forces shot and killed six Palestinians who, according to Israel’s military, crossed a designated “yellow line” in violation of the truce. Local health officials disputed the claim, saying the victims were unarmed civilians trying to reach their homes.
Meanwhile, Hamas security forces have reappeared in several neighborhoods vacated by Israeli troops, engaging in violent clashes with rival armed groups. Rights organizations condemned Hamas for carrying out what they described as summary executions of alleged gang members. Hamas defended its actions as “restoring stability and order.”
Hostage Disputes Deepen Political Tensions
The deal also hinges on the return of all remaining hostages — both living and deceased. Hamas handed over 20 surviving hostages earlier this week and began transferring remains. But Israeli officials accuse the group of withholding at least 28 sets of bodies still unreturned, calling it a breach of the truce.
One Israeli official told Politico that of the four sets of remains delivered on Tuesday, one did not match the DNA of any known hostage.
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza until all hostages’ remains are returned. “No bodies, no aid,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement.
Israel: “Demilitarization One Way or Another”
Netanyahu, in remarks to reporters, said Israel remains committed to Gaza’s full demilitarization — whether through the peace plan or military means.
“We are encircling Hamas from all directions,” he said. “If this can’t be done the easy way, it will be done the hard way.”
Israeli officials privately express skepticism that Hamas will follow through with disarmament, citing previous ceasefires that collapsed under similar promises.
An Uncertain Road Ahead
Trump has framed the peace process as a test of Hamas’s sincerity and a chance for what he called “a permanent peace built on strength.” Still, critics note that the president’s threat to unilaterally “disarm” Hamas lacks legal or operational clarity, particularly given his insistence on avoiding a ground deployment.
