Washington, DC – In an unexpected political escalation, US President Donald Trump today delivered a rare mix of praise and warning to Hamas in a speech that analysts consider a sudden shift in Washington’s tone toward the Palestinian movement. Trump also commended what he described as Hamas’s significant efforts to recover the body of the last Israeli hostage. He deemed the movement’s cooperation in this matter a positive step, unprecedented in Washington’s dealings with the group.
Trump’s statement came after complex diplomatic efforts to recover the body of Israeli policeman Ran Gavili, and it has generated widespread surprise in international circles.
However, Trump also set a crucial condition for Hamas: its immediate disarmament as part of any peace plan or reconstruction of Gaza. He asserted that peace cannot be achieved without dismantling the movement’s military infrastructure.
A US official revealed that disarmament would be accompanied by a form of amnesty for Hamas members. There would also be safe passage for those wishing to leave the Gaza Strip. This represents a surprising shift in traditional US policy, which has consistently labeled the movement a terrorist organization without any concessions.
Hamas responded by asserting that its weapons would remain as long as the occupation continues. Furthermore, any talk of disarmament is directly linked to ending the occupation, not to external demands.
