Trump Threatens Hamas Will Be "Dealt With Harshly" If It Fails to Disarm

Washington (ANTARA) — US President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a threat that Hamas would be “dealt with harshly” if the group fails to disarm.

“Hamas so far, I think they will hand over their weapons, as they promised,” Trump said during a speech at the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” in Washington DC.

“If they don’t, they will, you know, be dealt with harshly, very harshly,” Trump added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the White House had agreed that Hamas must disarm and Gaza must be demilitarised before reconstruction can begin in the conflict-ravaged strip, according to multiple reports.

Hamas on Tuesday called on the Board of Peace to intervene and halt what the group described as Israel’s ongoing “violations” of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, whilst warning that Israel was likely exploiting the forum’s meeting as cover to continue its military campaign.

In a televised statement on Tuesday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that developments over the past four months indicated Israel had not stopped the war but rather changed its means and form, citing “killings, displacement, blockades, and starvation” as still ongoing.