WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Thursday it “looks like” Hamas will give up its weapons, a core part of the next phase of the fragile Gaza ceasefire between the Palestinian militants and Israel.
“A lot of people said they’ll never disarm. It looks like they’re going to disarm,” Trump told a cabinet meeting after his special envoy Steve Witkoff gave a brief update on negotiations.
He added that all hostages were recovered through a policy of “peace through strength,” and that Hamas played a role in them being returned.
Earlier this week, a US official said the Trump administration believed disarmament by Hamas militants in Gaza would come along with some sort of amnesty for the Palestinian group.
The official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity on Monday, spoke to mark the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held by Hamas, and said that there was confidence among US officials that Hamas would disarm.
