Media: Trump to drop demand for Hamas disarmament as condition for ceasefire

Following a separate ceasefire agreement with the Houthis and his decision to drop the demand for Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel, President Donald Trump is reportedly shifting his approach in the Gaza sector.

According to a source cited by Al-Arabi al Jadeed, who is part of the Egyptian mediation team involved in the ceasefire negotiations, the United States has expressed its willingness to accept framework ideas for an agreement, no longer insisting on Hamas’ disarmament.

The U.S. is now prepared to delay any discussions about controlling Hamas’ weapons until after a ceasefire agreement is reached. However, the demand for the release of all hostages, both living and dead, remains a non-negotiable condition.

The source further explained that U.S. officials believe it is unrealistic to expel Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders and field commanders from Gaza for various reasons. One of the key concerns is the reluctance of the countries to which they would be expelled. The number of activists that Israel wants to expel, estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000, is viewed as unfeasible by American officials.

Additionally, the source shared that members of Trump’s circle, who are directly handling the negotiations, have concluded that the policy of using “military pressure” to secure hostage releases, as pursued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has proven ineffective. This conclusion came after the American negotiating team received intelligence from U.S. agencies concerning three hostages whose lives were in immediate danger.

An Egyptian official noted that with the American-backed demand for Hamas’ disarmament no longer looming over the negotiations, there is now a “cautious optimism” within Trump’s circle about the potential for reaching an agreement.

By Tamilla Hasanova