In a significant development, US President Donald Trump has delivered a stern ultimatum to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, demanding they lay down their weapons within a stipulated "very short period of time." This warning comes as part of the ongoing efforts to solidify a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The Stark Warning from Mar-a-Lago
President Trump, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday, left no room for ambiguity. He stated that Hamas had agreed to disarm as part of the October ceasefire plan, and failure to comply would have severe repercussions. "They're going to be given a very short period of time to disarm. And we'll see how that works out," Trump told reporters during a press conference.
He emphasized the gravity of the situation, adding, "But if they don't disarm as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, then there will be hell to pay for them." When questioned about the potential next steps should Hamas refuse, Trump ominously remarked it would be "horrible for them," indicating other nations were prepared to intervene.
Oversight and Regional Concerns
To monitor compliance, Trump announced that special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, a key figure in Middle East peace efforts, would oversee the process. This move underscores the administration's direct involvement in ensuring the terms of the deal are met.
The warning aligns with concerns raised by US officials. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who recently visited Israel, sounded the alarm on Sunday. Appearing on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' Graham cited Israeli and U.S. intelligence, stating, "What did I learn on this trip? That Hamas is not disarming. They're rearming. Hamas is not abandoning power. They're consolidating power." This assessment directly contradicts the foundational goal of the October agreement, which called for Hamas to disarm to maintain long-term peace with Israel.
A United Front and Future Implications
Following his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump projected a strong, unified stance. "I think we came to a lot of conclusion and conclusions, and there's very little difference in what we're looking at and where we want to be," he said, highlighting aligned objectives between the US and Israeli leadership.
The core of the issue remains Hamas's commitment. Trump reiterated, "Hamas pledged, they swore that they were gonna disarm. Now if they're not gonna disarm, those same countries will wipe out Hamas." While he did not name the countries ready to take action, the message was clear: the international patience for the group's militarization is wearing thin. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire holds or if the region faces a renewed and intensified conflict.
