Hamas ‘doesn’t Have A Choice’ And Must Disarm, Trump Administration Says

The U.S. on Monday suggested it could take military action to force Hamas to disarm or allow Israel to do so before it moves forward with rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

Following the release of the remains of the last hostage in Gaza, Ran Gvili, the Trump administration is beginning conversations with Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and others to initiate disarming Hamas – though details are scarce on how that would occur. U.S. officials, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations, said the executive board of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which includes participants from these countries and may ultimately include Saudi Arabia, would help facilitate it.

Hamas “signed an agreement – they don't have a choice, and so that's what we are going to work on to make happen. And if they decide to play games, then obviously President Trump will take other actions,” a U.S. official told reporters, who like others in this story was granted anonymity to share sensitive details about the discussions.

A second U.S. official said they “expect” Hamas to disarm and that the administration is in touch with Hamas leaders on its “very good program” to achieve it. Now, the first U.S. official said, the U.S. is “building a local Palestinian police force that can start policing themselves.”

The U.S. is also in the process of standing up an International Stabilization Force to help secure the Strip as it transitions away from Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to Israel’s parliament the Knesset on Monday, indicated his country would use force if Hamas doesn’t comply with the agreement and give up its weapons.

“It will happen the easy way, or the hard way,” Netanyahu said. “But it will happen.”

The latest remarks from U.S. officials double down on past threats. Trump wrote earlier this month on Truth Social, “As I have said before, they can do this the easy way, or the hard way.”

While the second phase of the Israel-Hamas agreement is in limbo, Gvili’s return is a significant achievement for the White House – for the first time since 2014, there are no hostages or their remains in the Gaza Strip. Returning all of the hostages, living and dead, was the last remaining condition before the ceasefire agreement calls for moving to the second phase to facilitate reconstruction.

“Just recovered the last Hostage body in GAZA. Thus, got back ALL 20 of the living Hostages, and ALL of the Dead!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “AMAZING JOB! Most thought of it as an impossible thing to do. Congratulations to my great team of Champions!!!”

Still, the toughest days lie ahead for the Trump administration and its ultimate quest to bring stability to the enclave.

The Trump administration has been optimistic about solving one of the thorniest challenges in years of wars between Israel and Hamas – getting the militant group, which sees its arms as key to its legitimacy as a resistance force, to give them up.

Netanyahu has said there will be no reconstruction in Gaza until Hamas gives up its weapons, which the U.S. agrees with.

“Nobody in the American administration or Israel, or quite frankly, in the Arab world, is interested in seeing rebuilding happen until we know that there's a good chance that there won't be a conflict again,” the first U.S. official said.

Israel controls about half of the Gaza Strip while most of Gaza’s Palestinian population lives on the Hamas-controlled west side of the so-called yellow line, established as part of the ceasefire agreement. The U.S. has named a new government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, but it’s unclear how the body will actually take control of Gaza.

In another development necessary to begin work toward reconstruction, the Rafah border crossing connecting Egypt to the Gaza Strip will open later this week to pedestrian crossings and the U.S. is discussing getting aid and other goods through it, the first official said.

When asked how the team will navigate the myriad obstacles, officials often say such queries are cynical.

“We have a good track record now on achieving impossible things,” the first U.S. official said.