US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Hamas had a “very short time” to fully disarm, warning that if it did not, “you will pay a price in hell.”
President Trump spoke at a press conference in Florida after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“If they don’t disarm, as they agreed to, they’re going to pay a hell of a price,” Trump said.
“And we don’t want that. But they have to be disarmed within a fairly short period of time.”
Ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu, the two leaders’ sixth meeting this year, Trump said they would discuss “five major topics” including the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, which is widely expected to begin in January.
The first phase of the agreement, which took effect on October 10 to end fighting that began in 2023, included a cessation of hostilities, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the exchange of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners of war.
The second phase, outlined in President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, includes Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of a Palestinian commission to temporarily govern Gaza.
President Trump said he expected reconstruction of the Gaza Strip to begin “pretty soon,” but gave no details about the timeline or who would be responsible for construction.
The Palestinian enclave has been extensively destroyed in more than two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas, with the United Nations estimating more than 80% of the Strip’s buildings have been destroyed.
Asked by reporters whether Israel’s actions and settler violence in the occupied West Bank were undermining peace, Trump said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “do not agree 100% on the West Bank, but we will come to a conclusion on the West Bank.”
Trump did not elaborate on the nature of the disagreement, but said Netanyahu “will do the right thing.”
President Trump said in September that he would not recognize Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, adding, “That’s not going to happen.”
Just a month after those comments, a symbolic vote by Israeli parliamentarians took place. Passed preliminary vote in favor of annexation of the West Bank.
Palestinians and many in the international community argue that annexation leaves little chance for a two-state solution, widely considered the only way to resolve the decades-old conflict.
The second stage is complicated
The second phase of the cease-fire plan would involve rebuilding a demilitarized Gaza Strip under international supervision by a group known as the Peace Commission, chaired by Trump.
The Palestinians will form an “innovative and apolitical” committee that will run day-to-day operations in Gaza under the supervision of a peace committee.
It also calls for normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world and a possible path to Palestinian independence.
But there are also thorny logistical and humanitarian challenges, including rebuilding war-torn Gaza, disarming Hamas, and creating a security organization called the International Stabilization Force.
The peace commission will oversee Gaza’s reconstruction under a two-year renewable UN mandate.
many things remain unresolved
The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu included U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner meeting with officials from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, which recently brokered a ceasefire in Florida.
Two major challenges complicate the transition to Phase 2, according to people briefed on the meetings.
Israeli authorities have spent much time vetting and approving members of the Palestinian Technical Committee from the list handed to them by mediators, and Israel continues its military offensive.
President Trump’s plan also calls for the deployment of a stabilization force, a proposed multinational agency, to maintain security. But that too has not yet formed.
One Western diplomat said there was a “huge gap” between the United States and Israel’s understanding of the military’s mission and that of other major powers in the region and European governments.
The United States and Israel want the force to play a “command role” in security missions, including disarming Hamas and other militant groups.
But the countries asked to provide troops are concerned that the mission will turn their troops into “occupation forces,” the diplomat said.
Hamas has said it is willing to discuss “freezing or storing” its weapons arsenals, but insists it has the right to armed resistance as long as Israel occupies Palestinian territory.
One U.S. official said it could follow Mr. Witkoff’s earlier “buyback” program, offering cash incentives in exchange for weapons.