President Donald Trump dismissed concerns over reports that Hamas is not willing to disarm itself following the hostage exchange.
Speaking to reporters at the White House in a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Trump was asked if he can “guarantee” the terrorist group will lay down its weapons as video and reports from Gaza show members of its militia gunning down rival factions.
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“They’re gonna disarm because they said they’re gonna disarm. And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them,” Trump said.
When asked how the United States would do that, Trump responded, “I don’t have to explain that to you. But if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.”
He added, “They know I’m not playing games.”
Trump accused Hamas of having “misrepresented” its position by promising the return of approximately two dozen dead hostages. Since the peace deal was implemented, only four bodies have been returned.
Hamas said the return of other victims’ remains has been complicated by the widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip, which it said will make finding their burial sites difficult. Four bodies were returned on Monday, and Hamas committed to returning four more bodies on Tuesday evening.
“Hamas’s announcement of the expected return of four bodies today constitutes a failure to meet its commitments,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday. “Any delay or deliberate avoidance will be considered a blatant violation of the agreement and will be met accordingly.”
Trump called the approximately 20 remaining bodies a “tough subject” and emphasized, “I want them back.”
Regarding the reports of widespread violence committed by Hamas against rival factions in the Gaza Strip, Trump said he was not particularly upset, adding that it’s “no different than other countries,” such as Venezuela.
However, citing a personal conversation he had with Hamas leadership in which he said the terrorists promised to lay down their weapons, Trump said he was inflexible on their demilitarization and willing to use force.
“We have told them we want [them disarmed] and they will disarm, and if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them,” he emphasized. “And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently, but they will disarm.”
The terrorist group has acknowledged its willingness to surrender leadership of Gaza to an international “Board of Peace,” as stipulated. However, it has been much less enthusiastic about the prospect of laying down its weapons.
“We cannot leave Gaza at the mercy of thieves and militias backed by the Israeli occupation,” a Hamas official told the BBC on Saturday. “Our weapons are legitimate … to resist occupation, and they will remain as long as the occupation continues.”
HAMAS EXECUTES RIVALS, CRACKS DOWN ON CIVILIANS IN POST-DEAL GAZA POWER VACUUM
A preeminent target of Hamas attacks following the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from Gaza City is the Doghmush clan, a clandestine criminal family accused of collaborating with Israel during the war.
Hamas suspects the Doghmush of being responsible for murdering three members of the terrorist group and has issued orders to surviving militants to “cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators with Israel.”