US President Donald Trump has said he wants to move swiftly to the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, while issuing a strong warning to Hamas, insisting the group must disarm or face severe consequences.
Trump made the remarks on Monday during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. Speaking at a joint press conference after their meeting, the US president said Israel had fully respected the peace framework, even as Israeli military operations in Gaza continue.
He stressed that the transition to the next phase of the plan depends on Hamas laying down its weapons. According to Trump, disarmament must happen within a short time frame, warning that failure to do so would bring serious repercussions for the group. He added that reconstruction efforts in Gaza could begin soon if the process advances.
The Gaza peace plan, which took effect in October, outlines a second phase involving the establishment of a technocratic administration in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the disarmament of Hamas. Large-scale reconstruction would then follow. However, critics argue that Israel may seek to delay troop withdrawal until Hamas disarms, raising concerns about the political future of the territory.
Hamas officials have said they would only consider full disarmament alongside meaningful progress toward the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Trump, however, dismissed concerns that Israel was slowing the process, saying his focus was on the actions of other parties.
Since the ceasefire began, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says at least 414 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military actions. Israel maintains that its forces have responded only to ceasefire violations and has accused Hamas of responsibility for the deaths of three Israeli soldiers during the same period.
Trump also addressed tensions with Iran, warning that the United States could support further military action if Tehran resumes efforts to rebuild its nuclear or ballistic missile programmes. He claimed Iran might be using alternative sites for such activities. Iran strongly denied the allegations, with a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that any attack would trigger an immediate and forceful response.
During the discussions, Trump and Netanyahu also touched on broader regional issues, including Syria and Lebanon. Netanyahu said Israel sought stability along its border with Syria, while Trump expressed hope that Israel could work with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who came to power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Trump noted that strong leadership would be necessary to stabilise Syria and recalled his decision to lift US sanctions on the country in June.
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