Donald Trump says if Hamas don't disarm, we will disarm them | BBC News

Key Concepts Ceasefire Agreement, Hostage Returns, Hamas Disarmament, Humanitarian Aid, Rafah Border Crossing, Internal Gaza Conflict, Abushab group, Palestinian Authority (Mahmud Abbas), Public Execution, Fragile Ceasefire.

President Trump's Ultimatum and Initial Hostage Returns

President Trump has issued a stern warning, stating that the United States will "disarm Hamas quickly and perhaps violently" if the group fails to surrender its weapons in Gaza. Trump asserted that Hamas had previously committed to disarming as part of his ceasefire deal, insisting that this commitment would be fulfilled.

In recent developments, Hamas handed over the remains of four more individuals. Three of these have been confirmed as Israeli hostages: Uriel Baroo, Tamir Nimrodi, and Etan Levy. The identity of the fourth body remains unconfirmed. This brings the total number of returned bodies to eight, with another four expected shortly. All remaining living hostages held by Hamas were reportedly returned on Monday. Concurrently, Israel is reported to be reopening the Gaza border crossing with Egypt as originally scheduled.

Fragility of the Ceasefire and Israeli Concerns

The ongoing ceasefire agreement is described as "fragile," largely due to Hamas's failure to locate and return all deceased hostages and its refusal to disarm. This situation threatens to create an "early wedge" in the agreement. The delivery of four more bodies by the International Red Cross still leaves 20 unaccounted for.

In response, Israel had planned to restrict the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and keep the border crossing with Egypt closed until Hamas returns more of the deceased within Gaza. Internally, Hamas is reasserting its authority by targeting "armed plans" (likely armed gangs or factions) that it accuses of collaborating with Israel. Hamas's refusal to disarm is identified as the "most immediate threat" to Donald Trump's regional peace plan.

When questioned about Hamas's disarmament, President Trump stated, "Well, they're going to disarm uh and because they said they were going to disarm, and if they don't disarm, we will disarm them. How will you do that? I don't have to explain that to you, but if they don't disarm, we will disarm them. They know I'm not playing games."

Despite Trump's confidence, his Israeli counterpart (implied to be the Prime Minister) expressed caution, referencing Trump's earlier statement: "I think I heard the president speak tonight. He said, 'Listen, they better do it or uh you know, how can I can I um speak for him?' He said, 'All all hell breaks loose.' Okay. Well, I hope it doesn't. I hope we can do do this peacefully, and we're certainly ready to do so." The ceasefire deal itself is criticized for being "short on detail and lacking any sort of firm agreement." The extent of devastation in Gaza is said to "exceed that of both Berlin and Hamburg after the Second World War," impacting the lives of 2 million Palestinians.

Challenges in Hostage Body Identification

Hugo Basha, the Middle East correspondent, provided further details on the returned hostage remains. While three of the four bodies returned last night were identified, Israeli media reports indicate that the fourth body is not that of a deceased hostage. This is not an isolated incident, as Hamas mistakenly sent the body of a Palestinian in an earlier exchange this year. If this information is confirmed, it means 21 bodies of hostages still remain in Gaza.

This delay and misidentification have caused "a lot of anger in Israel" and "raised fears that there could be some kind of derailment" in the ceasefire deal. Hamas has not provided a clear explanation for the delay but previously stated it did not know the exact location of all bodies inside Gaza and would require time to retrieve them. Under the ceasefire deal announced by President Trump, all deceased bodies must be returned to Israel, prolonging the wait for many families.

Humanitarian Aid and Rafah Crossing Status

Reports confirm that the Rafah border crossing, the main crossing point between Gaza and Egypt, has been reopened as planned. This follows earlier threats by Israeli authorities to delay its reopening and restrict humanitarian aid entry due to the delays in returning deceased hostage bodies from Gaza.

As part of the ceasefire deal, 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid are expected to enter Gaza each day. Additionally, Israeli media reported that four more bodies of deceased hostages were expected to be returned later today. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 15,000 people in Gaza are in urgent need of treatment outside the strip due to a severe lack of facilities and widespread destruction of hospitals. While 250 sick and seriously injured people were expected to cross into Egypt today, no aid trucks had crossed into Gaza at the time of the report, though 400 to 600 were anticipated.

Internal Conflict in Gaza

Rushi Abu Alof, the Gaza correspondent, detailed ongoing internal fighting within Gaza. Dozens of people have died in recent days in clashes between Hamas and "three-fold groups of gangs" located in the north, Khan Younis, and the south (Rafah). The largest of these is identified as the "Abushab group." These groups operate in areas still controlled by Israel, limiting Hamas's direct attacks there, but they are active "in other elements inside." An exchange of fire was reported in the Shijaya neighborhood, east of Gaza, recently.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas issued a "very long statement condemning Hamas" for what he termed "public execution," calling it "criminal activity" that "doesn't help our cause as Palestinians" and "ruins the image of Palestinians." He urged Hamas to cease such acts. Hamas, however, justifies its actions by stating it "can't leave Gaza for thieves and criminals and people who collaborate with Israel," asserting that these actions are an "immediate threat to the population" and have "no link with the future plan of who's going to govern Gaza or about the h the women" (likely referring to hostages or humanitarian issues).

Overall Ceasefire Outlook and Humanitarian Crisis

The overall situation remains "grim and not clear and very frustrating" for the people of Gaza. The ceasefire is described as "fragile," with seven people reportedly killed yesterday. The process of returning hostage bodies and facilitating humanitarian aid, considered "the easiest bit," is "not working according to plan." Hamas is expected to take a "long time" to identify the remains of the 21 Israeli hostage bodies still believed to be in Gaza. The humanitarian situation is dire, with Israel's earlier threats to reduce aid convoys and delay crossings adding to the frustration.

Conclusion/Main Takeaways

The ceasefire in Gaza is highly precarious, marked by significant challenges including Hamas's refusal to disarm, persistent delays and misidentifications in returning deceased hostages, and internal conflicts within Gaza. President Trump's firm stance on disarmament contrasts with the cautious optimism of Israeli officials, highlighting the lack of a detailed and firm agreement. The humanitarian crisis remains severe, with aid delivery and medical evacuations facing obstacles, despite the reopening of the Rafah crossing. The ongoing violence and political tensions underscore the fragility of the current arrangement, leaving the future of peace and reconstruction in Gaza uncertain and frustrating for its inhabitants.