Trump pushes Hamas disarmament as Gaza ceasefire second phase kicks off
Trump pushes Hamas disarmament as Gaza ceasefire second phase kicks off
As Phase Two of a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire begins, Trump presses for Hamas disarmament and the return of Israeli captive remains, amid governance and aid talks.
President Trump urged Hamas to commit to a comprehensive demilitarization as the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire moves forward. He warned that noncompliance would invite severe consequences and pressed for Hamas to immediately honor its commitments, including the return of the last Israeli captive’s remains.
Under the plan, the second phase aims to dismantle Hamas's weapons and tunnel network with support from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, while allowing significantly more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The path to full demilitarization remains unsettled, and Hamas has so far refused to surrender its arms. A potential buy-back program for small weapons—rifles, pistols and machine guns—has been floated as a possible incentive, though enforcement questions cloud its feasibility.
Officials have outlined a governance framework for the post-conflict period, including a Gaza “board of peace” to oversee a Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with day-to-day administration. An International Stabilisation Force is also part of the broader plan, though major hurdles remain. The evolving blueprint underscores how a fragile truce could hinge on how quickly arms are relinquished, how humanitarian relief is delivered, and how regional powers coordinate on security guarantees.
Analysts caution that even with formal structures in place, real-world compliance will depend on sustained regional cooperation, credible enforcement, and tangible improvements on the ground for civilians who have borne the brunt of the conflict.
