Washington(The COW News Digital)US President Donald Trump has warned Hamas that it has very little time left to lay down its weapons, issuing a strong ultimatum during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on an official visit to the United States.
According to international media reports, Trump and Netanyahu discussed a range of critical issues during their meeting, including the future governance of Gaza and the next phase of the fragile ceasefire process. Trump reassured the Israeli leader that Hamas would soon be forced to act on commitments related to disarmament.
Trump reportedly said that Hamas would be given only a limited window to surrender its weapons. If the group fails to comply, he warned, it would face extremely harsh consequences. Using unusually strong language, Trump said Hamas should be prepared to “pay a heavy price” if it ignores the ultimatum.
US officials claim that Hamas had earlier signaled a willingness, at least in principle, to consider disarmament during initial discussions. However, Hamas has repeatedly rejected these claims, maintaining that it has not agreed to surrender its weapons under the current circumstances.
Hamas insists that the issue of disarmament can only be discussed after the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state. This position, according to observers, remains one of the central obstacles preventing progress toward the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Trump also stated that he wanted rapid progress on the second phase of his proposed 20-point plan for Gaza, though he avoided providing a specific timeline. The plan reportedly addresses long-term security arrangements, governance structures and reconstruction efforts in the war-ravaged territory.
The first phase of the ceasefire began in October but implementation of the second phase has stalled due to deep disagreements between Israel and Hamas. Israeli officials argue that Hamas must be dismantled militarily and politically, while Hamas views continued armed resistance as a guarantee against future Israeli actions.
The proposed second phase includes the establishment of an interim administrative setup led by Palestinian technocrats, supported by an international stabilization force. It also envisions the gradual demilitarization of Gaza and a new framework for long-term security and governance.
Analysts say Trump’s remarks are likely to intensify diplomatic pressure on Hamas while also reassuring Israel of continued US backing. However, they caution that without addressing the broader political demands of the Palestinians, including statehood, achieving lasting stability in Gaza will remain difficult.
As negotiations remain deadlocked, the coming weeks are expected to be critical in determining whether the ceasefire process can move forward or collapse under mounting tensions.
