Tehran - BORNA - Trump’s remarks came after American mediators claimed that Hamas had assured them of its intention to hand over heavy weapons as part of the post-war settlement framework. “If they do not disarm,” Trump said, “we will do it for them — quickly, and maybe violently.”
At the same time, Bashara Bahbah, a U.S.–Palestinian businessman and head of the Arab Americans for Peace Committee, who is known to have close ties to the Trump administration, told Al Arabiya that the president personally supports a two-state solution and envisions a limited but functional role for Hamas in Gaza’s future governance.
According to Bahbah, “the existence of Hamas and its role are two different things.” He suggested that Hamas might be integrated into Gaza’s local security structures after the war and that its disarmament could be achieved by transferring weapons to an Islamic-Arab peacekeeping force.
Bahbah added that, as he understands it, Washington’s focus is mainly on removing “heavy weaponry” — a proposal that, he claimed, Hamas does not categorically reject.
The debate over disarmament intensified after Israeli officials said on Tuesday that the bodies of some hostages held by Hamas had not yet been returned.
Mohammad al-Hindi, deputy head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, told Al Jazeera that the resistance factions “have not agreed to surrender their weapons” and “will not accept threats of forced disarmament.”
He denied reports of any secret clauses in the ceasefire agreement and accused Israel of trying to obstruct its implementation.
Meanwhile, Marwan Abdel Aal of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine told Al Aqsa TV earlier that “the issue of resistance weapons has never been on the negotiation table,” calling Gaza’s administration a “national matter” to be decided by Palestinians themselves.
Inside Gaza, a new power vacuum has become visible in the aftermath of the ceasefire talks. Reports suggest that Hamas has recently clashed with local smuggling groups and individuals accused of looting international aid shipments, a development Israeli media have described as an attempt by Hamas to reassert control and preserve its military capability under the guise of restoring order.
From the Israeli perspective, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that the war will not end “until Hamas is completely destroyed.” In contrast, Trump’s ceasefire proposal reportedly envisions the complete disarmament of Hamas and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to an international authority under global supervision — a body that has yet to be formally established and whose mechanisms remain unclear.
So far, Hamas has not accepted the disarmament terms in full and has called for further negotiations. The group has expressed willingness to hand over governance to other Palestinian factions but warned that it “will not allow the transitional period to turn into chaos.”
Israel, however, remains deeply concerned that as long as Hamas retains any weapons, it could rebuild its military network and maintain influence in Gaza, even if administrative power shifts to a new governing entity.
Commenting on recent clashes between Hamas and other armed groups, Trump said the organization had already “eliminated several very dangerous gangs,” but emphasized again that complete disarmament is non-negotiable.
“They will be disarmed,” Trump declared. “And if they are not, we will disarm them — swiftly, and perhaps violently.”
The blunt warning underscores the fragile post-war landscape in Gaza, where resistance factions reject foreign pressure, and the proposed international supervision mechanism remains undefined. Western media noted that while Trump described the release of hostages as the “hardest part” of the deal, the unfolding disputes suggest that the most difficult phase — achieving a lasting peace — may only just be beginning.
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