US Demands Disarmament Amid Fragile Gaza Ceasefire
In the aftermath of a major prisoner exchange under a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to the militant group. Trump insists that Hamas must disarm or the US will take action to disarm them, potentially sparking further conflict in an already tense situation.
The Ceasefire and its Double Standard
The ceasefire deal, brokered by the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye, saw Hamas liberating the last 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and in return, Israel sent home close to 2,000 Palestinian detainees. However, the spectacle of the Gaza deal has been criticized by Al Jazeera for its perceived double standards in the coverage of the captives' release in Israel and Gaza.
The Threat of Force
Trump's forceful ultimatum was delivered during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei at the White House. If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently, but they will disarm,” Trump said. Despite the ceasefire agreement, the US president insists that Hamas's disarmament should take place within a
reasonable period of time."
The Fallout of the Conflict
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the Middle East Eye describing it as the holocaust of our time.
UNICEF has reported that 90% of homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in Israeli attacks, leaving a significant portion of the population homeless. Meanwhile, Middle East Eye reports that the International Criminal Court has rejected a request to cancel arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Violations of the Ceasefire
Despite the ceasefire, there have been numerous reported violations. Israeli forces have been accused of carrying out 80 ceasefire violations since October 10, killing 97 people and wounding 230 more. Israel has countered these claims, arguing that Hamas has breached the ceasefire. The Rafah crossing, a critical supply route, remains closed, with Netanyahu ordering it to stay shut until further notice.
International Reaction
The situation in Gaza has attracted international attention, with Corriere della Sera reporting that European military is heading to Rafah, though the crossing will not reopen before the weekend. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post quotes Trump stating that Hamas has not publicly committed to putting down its weapons, underlying the fragile nature of the ceasefire.
Current Status
The ceasefire remains officially in place, yet the death toll continues to rise, reaching 68,216 on Monday according to the Middle East Eye. The majority of those killed are reportedly women and children. Amidst the rising tension, Trump administration envoys are expected to visit Israel on Tuesday, highlighting the global significance of the situation.