US Demands Hamas Disarmament as Hostage Handovers Continue Under Ceasefire
In a recent development, US President Donald Trump has stated that the militant group Hamas must disarm or face being disarmed by force, following a major prisoner swap under a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. This statement arrives amid a series of handovers of deceased hostages' bodies from Hamas to the Red Cross, in accordance with the ceasefire deal.
Ceasefire Deal and Hostage Handovers
According to reports from multiple sources including Russia Today, The Guardian, The Times of Israel, and Middle East Eye, Hamas has been handing over bodies of deceased Israeli hostages as part of the ceasefire deal. On Monday, the militant group released the last 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and Israel reciprocated by sending home nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
The Red Cross is playing a significant role in this process by receiving the bodies and passing them onto the Israeli military. As reported by The Guardian and Middle East Eye, the Israeli Ministry of Health’s National Center for Forensic Medicine is to receive the bodies for formal identification.
Trump's Demand for Disarmament
Meanwhile, at a White House meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, Trump emphasized his demand for the disarmament of Hamas. He said, If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently, but they will disarm,
while insisting that it should happen within a reasonable period of time
.
Challenges and Implications
The handover process is not without its challenges. There have been disputes over delays in the return of remains under the ceasefire deal, as The Guardian reports, and the widespread destruction in Gaza has made finding the bodies difficult, according to Hamas.
Fox News reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has urged Hamas to uphold the agreement and return all the hostages. The IDF also confirmed the transfer of a deceased hostage's coffin from Hamas to the Red Cross.
The ongoing hostage handovers mark significant progress in the ceasefire process meant to end two years of war. However, the US's demand for Hamas' disarmament indicates that the path to peace may be fraught with pressure and potential conflicts.
Current Status
As of recent reports, Hamas has handed over the remains of nearly half of the 28 deceased hostages in Gaza. The bodies are undergoing formal identification processes, and the families of the deceased are being notified first, as per Israeli authorities.
Meanwhile, the US's pressure on Hamas for disarmament presents a new challenge in the ceasefire process. It remains to be seen how Hamas will respond to this demand and what implications it may have on the ongoing peace process.