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Trump presses for rapid advancement in Gaza peace plan
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope on Monday that the second phase of the Gaza peace plan could begin "very quickly," but stressed that Hamas must disarm as agreed. During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, Trump warned that Hamas would face severe consequences if it failed to comply with the disarmament terms outlined in the 20-point agreement.
Israel's compliance and Hamas's obligations
Trump stated that Israel had "lived up to the plan 100%," despite ongoing military operations in Gaza. The U.S. president emphasized that disarmament was a non-negotiable condition for moving forward. "If they don't disarm as they agreed to do, there will be hell to pay for them," he said, adding that Hamas had a "fairly short period of time" to meet the requirement.
The Gaza peace plan, implemented in October, envisions a phased approach. Phase two includes the establishment of a technocratic government in Gaza, Hamas's disarmament, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, followed by reconstruction efforts. However, critics argue that Netanyahu may seek to delay the process, prioritizing Hamas's disarmament before any troop withdrawal.
Diverging views on Palestinian statehood
Netanyahu has faced accusations of reluctance to engage meaningfully in discussions about a political future for Palestinians. In contrast, Hamas officials have insisted that full disarmament should coincide with progress toward an independent Palestinian state.
When asked about Israel's pace in advancing to phase two, Trump dismissed concerns, stating, "I'm not concerned about anything that Israel's doing. I'm concerned about what other people are doing or maybe aren't doing."
Casualties and ceasefire violations
Since the ceasefire took effect, at least 414 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military, which controls over half of Gaza, has attributed the deaths to responses to ceasefire violations. It also reported the deaths of three Israeli soldiers during the same period, blaming Hamas for the incidents.
U.S. warns Iran over nuclear ambitions
Trump also issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that the U.S. would launch further strikes if Tehran resumed its nuclear weapons program. "I hope they're not trying to build up again, because if they are, we're going to have no choice but to eradicate that build-up," he said. The president cited reports suggesting Iran might be using alternative sites for nuclear development, a claim Tehran has dismissed as a "psychological operation."
In June, Trump claimed that U.S. airstrikes had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, has vowed to respond harshly to any aggression, warning that renewed attacks would result in "harsher consequences" for Israel.
Regional tensions beyond Gaza
The discussions between Trump and Netanyahu also addressed broader regional issues, including Syria and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Netanyahu expressed Israel's desire for a peaceful border with Syria, while Trump voiced hope that Israel could establish a constructive relationship with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, who assumed power after the deposition of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, has drawn skepticism from Israel due to his past ties to al-Qaeda. Israel conducted airstrikes on government buildings in Damascus in July. Trump acknowledged al-Sharaa's tough stance but expressed optimism about potential cooperation. "He really is [working hard]. I know he's a tough cookie. And, you know, you're not going to get a choir boy to lead Syria," Trump said.
In June, Trump signed an executive order to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, signaling a shift in policy toward the war-torn country.
