Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that he would consider allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume military action in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire agreement. Speaking in a brief telephone call with CNN, Trump indicated that Israeli forces could return to the streets of Gaza “as soon as I say the word.”
Ceasefire Agreement Under Scrutiny
Trump’s remarks come as Israel has accused Hamas, which the U.S. government designates as a terrorist organization, of not fully adhering to the ceasefire deal. The agreement stipulated the return of all hostages, both living and deceased, as a condition to end fighting in Gaza. While all 20 living Israeli hostages have been returned, Hamas has delivered the bodies of only four individuals, with the Israeli military disputing the identity of one. Authorities in Israel have informed the United Nations that humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza may be reduced or delayed due to the insufficient return of deceased hostages, though the ceasefire has remained tenuous.
Point 4 of Trump’s 20-point peace plan specified that “Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.” The president emphasized the importance of the release of the living hostages, calling it “paramount.”
Hamas’s Role in Gaza’s Future
Following the release of the living hostages, violent clashes have reportedly erupted between Hamas and rival groups within Gaza, including an incident described as a public execution. Trump noted that Hamas is currently “going in and clearing out the gangs, violent gangs” and stated he is researching whether Hamas might be executing innocent Palestinians. Trump has previously warned that Hamas must disarm or “we will disarm them.”
His peace plan envisions a future where Hamas has no role in governing a demilitarized Gaza, which would be under independent monitoring. Point 6 of the plan offers amnesty to Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and decommission their weapons, providing safe passage to receiving countries for those wishing to leave Gaza. The administration acknowledges that the current agreement represents only “Phase 1” and further work is required to determine Gaza’s long-term future.
Broader Diplomatic Efforts
Despite the challenges in Gaza, Trump expressed optimism regarding long-term peace prospects in the Middle East, citing the strong support of 59 countries for the ceasefire deal and their interest in the Abraham Accords. He also noted that “Iran isn’t a problem” in this context. Beyond the Middle East, Trump affirmed he is “working hard on the Russian thing” to end the war in Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expected to visit the White House on Friday.
In a final note during his call, Trump criticized certain news media outlets while expressing hope for fairer coverage from others. He indicated he would consider a request for a one-on-one, sit-down interview with CNN.
