U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas as the United States ramps up pressure on the Palestinian group to disarm under the next phase of a fragile Gaza ceasefire.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Trump had threatened Hamas with “fast, furious and brutal force” should it fail to comply, while US Vice President JD Vance echoed the message during a visit to Israel, declaring, “If Hamas doesn’t cooperate, as the president of the United States has said, Hamas is going to be obliterated.”
Human rights organisations have condemned the threats, arguing they breach international legal standards.
The ceasefire, now in its 11th day, remains shaky, with ongoing reports of violations on both sides. The Gaza health ministry said on Tuesday that Israel has killed at least 87 Palestinians since the truce began. Over the weekend, two Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Gaza.
A Hamas delegation meeting Turkish officials on Tuesday reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the deal despite “repeated violations” by Israel. Turkey is one of the signatories to Trump’s 20-point ceasefire framework, agreed earlier this month in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Vance is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and has signalled optimism, describing the truce as going “better than expected”.
However, he cautioned against expectations of swift progress, especially regarding the return of hostage bodies and the full implementation of the broader ceasefire plan.
Key elements of Trump’s proposal include the disarmament of Hamas, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the formation of a technocratic administration overseen by an international board chaired by Trump himself.
A multinational peacekeeping force is also proposed, with no role for Hamas.
While some clemency for Hamas fighters is reportedly on the table, all parties—including Israel and Gulf states—have made disarmament a non-negotiable demand.
Vance, speaking at a US military facility in southern Israel where American troops are monitoring the truce, also noted that further normalisation between Israel and Gulf countries could follow successful progress.
Meanwhile, US diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with envoy Steven Witkoff, held talks with Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad in Israel on Tuesday. Egypt is also hosting Hamas negotiators, led by Khalil al-Hayya, in Cairo.
According to a Palestinian official familiar with the discussions, Hamas has expressed openness to a technocratic governing body in Gaza—one that excludes Hamas representation but would operate with the group’s consent, as well as that of the Palestinian Authority.
Qatar, another key mediator, has accused Israel of “continuous violations” of the truce, underlining the fragility of the situation. Turkish officials, too, are positioning themselves for a continued diplomatic role as the process moves forward.
On the ground, efforts to recover and return hostage bodies continue slowly. Hamas handed over two more remains on Tuesday, bringing the total returned to three, while Israel handed back the bodies of 15 Palestinians.
Aid is flowing into Gaza through two Israeli-controlled crossings, but humanitarian agencies say this is still far from sufficient. The UN World Food Programme said deliveries are falling short of its 2,000-ton daily target, and no aid has yet reached the devastated northern part of Gaza.
Tensions remain high around the so-called “yellow line” marking Israel’s military withdrawal zone. On Tuesday, Israeli forces reportedly shot dead a person attempting to cross into the zone. Palestinians say the boundary is poorly marked, and Israeli bulldozers have begun installing yellow concrete blocks to make it more visible.
According to Gaza health authorities, seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since the war began to 68,229.
The conflict erupted following Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which left around 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. - October 22, 2025
