Trump and Envoy Discuss Hamas Disarmament
President Donald Trump along with his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed confidence on Thursday that Hamas will agree to disarm as part of the second phase of the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan for Gaza. However, Hamas officials countered this optimism, with analysts suggesting that the group may not have plans to disarm and could hinder Trump’s objectives in Gaza.
During his tenth Cabinet meeting of his second term, Trump appeared assured that militant Palestinian groups would be inclined to relinquish their weapons. He stated, “What we want is Hamas. No guns, right? Disarm.” He acknowledged the skepticism surrounding this issue, saying, “A lot of people say they’ll never disarm. It looks like they’re going to disarm.”
Witkoff backed Trump’s viewpoint, indicating that disarmament was already in progress. He asserted, “We got the terrorists out of there, and they will demilitarize. They will because they have no choice. They’re going to give it up. They’re going to give up the AK-47.
Experts in the region have raised concerns, arguing that Hamas has no intention of disarming and could actively resist President Trump’s plans. Kobi Michael, a national security analyst, remarked that Hamas “does not intend to disarm and never intended to do so.” He also pointed out that communication appears lacking between the involved parties, hinting at a possible rift.
Michael emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces are the only group capable of ensuring Hamas’s disarmament, noting that “no one but Turkey is willing to send troops” to the proposed International Stabilization Force intended to oversee security in Gaza.
On the same day, Hamas officials firmly rejected the claims made by the White House. Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk stated that the group “has never agreed to disarmament. No one has raised it directly with us,” reinforcing that they continue to maintain a stronghold in Gaza. The statement suggested that Hamas could influence the appointments to a new technical committee established to manage reconstruction and civil affairs in the region.
This committee is part of Trump’s broader 20-point peace plan aimed at stabilizing Gaza. Witkoff noted that with the establishment of the technocratic, all-Arab government, there is now hope for providing essential services to over 2 million residents in Gaza, while reconstruction costs are expected to exceed $50 billion.
However, Michael cautioned that this new administration might still be affected by Hamas’s influence. According to him, “They will use the existing bureaucracy run by technocrats to control and influence how this government actually operates.” He highlighted that Hamas is already leveraging demands regarding troop withdrawals and immediate reconstruction while preserving their military capabilities.
This situation might lead President Trump to the conclusion that only the Israel Defense Forces can successfully disarm Hamas, presenting a significant challenge to his Gaza plans.
