On Saturday, President Trump placed the burden on Hamas if a ceasefire with Israel were to falter, asserting that the current agreement represented a “lasting peace.”
After a meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during a stop in Doha while traveling to Malaysia, Trump expressed optimism. “I think it will hold,” he told reporters.
He added, “If it doesn’t hold, it’s Hamas’s fault. Dealing with Hamas won’t be difficult if it comes to that. They’ve made some commitments to us, so I hope they stick to them. If not, they’re going to face serious consequences.”
Trump also mentioned on social media that the militant group “must start returning the deceased hostages’ bodies, including those of two Americans, or other nations involved in this peace initiative may take further action.”
He noted, “Some bodies are hard to reach, some could be returned immediately, while others can’t be for various reasons. Maybe it’s related to their disarmament. When I said ‘both sides will be treated fairly,’ it really hinges on their obligations. We’ll see what happens in the next 48 hours—I’m keeping a close eye on it.”
The president praised Qatar’s efforts in contributing peacekeeping forces as part of the International Stabilization Force, which aims to take security control of Gaza from Hamas. He indicated that peacekeepers would enter Gaza “when necessary.”
“By the way, Israel could easily go in there,” Trump pointed out. “It’s right there. But there’s an Arab nation involved. All of them—every Muslim, every Arab—it’s quite remarkable. It feels like a significant achievement, and I hope it brings long-lasting peace.”
Earlier this week, Trump stated that if Hamas were to breach the ceasefire, the U.S. response would be “very swift and very violent…” He emphasized the commitment to eradicate Hamas.
Hamas is reportedly not fully prepared to hand over control of Gaza. Surrendering control would pave the way for a technocratic government to manage the region as part of a broader stabilization effort.
In a visit to Israel, Vice President Vance reiterated the administration’s firm stance against U.S.-designated terrorist organizations while attending the launch of the U.S.-led Civilian-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which is tasked with overseeing the ceasefire.
“Hamas must adhere to the agreement. If they don’t, there will be severe repercussions,” Vance warned.
As of now, there is no specific timeline set for Hamas to relinquish power over the Gaza Strip.
Updated at 4:23pm EDT
