Trump Warns Hamas as Gaza Truce Faces New Tensions

Post by : Saif Nasser

The United States has warned Hamas to give up its weapons or face severe action as part of the next steps in the fragile Gaza ceasefire. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that Hamas must cooperate if it wants peace to last.

During his visit to Israel on Tuesday, Vice President Vance said the ceasefire plan was working better than many had expected. However, he repeated President Trump’s warning that if Hamas refuses to follow the agreement, the U.S. would use what he called “fast, furious, and brutal force” against the group.

The Gaza truce, now 11 days old, remains shaky. Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of breaking the ceasefire, even as both sides say they want to keep it alive. Since the truce began, Israel has killed at least 87 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while two Israeli soldiers were also killed in the southern part of the enclave over the weekend.

U.S. Pushes for Next Phase of Peace Plan

The U.S., along with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, is now trying to move the peace process to its next stage. This phase is expected to be much harder, as it involves issues that have blocked peace efforts for many years. Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan includes three key conditions: Hamas must disarm, Israel must withdraw its troops from Gaza, and talks should begin to form a Palestinian state.

So far, Hamas has refused to agree to disarm. But it has said that it will continue to respect the truce. In a meeting with Turkish officials, Hamas leaders said they were still committed to the ceasefire deal, even though they accuse Israel of repeated violations. Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar are playing major roles as mediators, trying to keep both sides talking.

Vance Meets Israeli Leaders

Vice President Vance, who will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, said he was hopeful about the situation but warned that progress would take time. “A full realisation of this plan will take a lot of work and a very, very long time,” he said.

Vance also visited a U.S. military base in southern Israel, where American troops are monitoring the ceasefire. He explained that while Hamas fighters could be offered clemency if they surrender their weapons, the group must disarm completely. “If Hamas doesn’t cooperate, as the president of the United States has said, Hamas is going to be obliterated,” Vance warned.

Human rights groups have criticized Trump and Vance’s language, saying threats of violence could violate international law and make peace talks harder.

Talks Continue in Cairo

In Cairo, Egyptian officials hosted a Hamas delegation led by senior leader Khalil al-Hayya. Discussions focused on maintaining the current truce and setting up a new governing body for Gaza. A Palestinian official close to the talks said Hamas is open to allowing a technocratic committee — a government made up of experts rather than politicians — to manage Gaza’s daily affairs. The committee would have Hamas’ approval but not include any of its members directly.

Trump’s plan suggests that Gaza’s new leadership should work under an international board that he would personally oversee. It also proposes the creation of a multinational peacekeeping force in Gaza, with no role for Hamas in its security or government structure.

Mediators Seek Balance Amid Fragile Calm

Qatar and Turkey, both acting as mediators, have accused Israel of breaking the truce. Qatar said Israel continued its “violations,” while Turkey emphasized that its goal was to keep both sides engaged in dialogue. Vance said Turkey could play a “constructive role” as the talks move into the next stage.

The U.S. team leading the mediation includes Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steven Witkoff. They have been meeting regional officials, including Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, to push the process forward.

Hostage Bodies and Aid Deliveries

As part of the ongoing truce arrangements, Hamas handed over more bodies of Israeli hostages. One was returned late Monday, and two more on Tuesday. Thirteen more bodies are still believed to be in Gaza. Israeli officials said they expect more remains to be returned, though some may take longer to locate and identify.

Israel also returned 15 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza on Tuesday, bringing the total number handed over since the start of the ceasefire to 165.

Humanitarian aid has slowly increased, with more supplies entering Gaza through two Israeli-controlled crossings. However, U.N. agencies say the aid is still far from enough. The World Food Programme reported that only a fraction of its 2,000-ton daily target is reaching Gaza, and none has yet reached the famine-hit northern areas.

“More aid is coming in, but it’s not nearly what people need to survive,” a U.N. official said.

Continuing Tensions Along the “Yellow Line”

Most of the current violence is happening near the “yellow line,” which marks the edge of Israel’s military withdrawal. On Tuesday, Israel’s public Kan radio said troops shot and killed a person who crossed the line and moved toward Israeli forces. Palestinians in the area said it is often unclear where the boundary begins, as much of the land is in ruins. Israeli bulldozers have started placing yellow concrete blocks to mark the line more clearly.

The Gaza health ministry said seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of people killed in Gaza since the war began to 68,229. The conflict started after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.

A Fragile Hope for Peace

For now, both sides say they want the ceasefire to hold, but deep mistrust remains. The U.S. and its partners are trying to move the truce from a temporary stop in fighting toward a lasting peace, though diplomats admit it will be difficult.