In a high-stakes meeting at the White House on October 14, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump confronted the critical challenge at the heart of his Gaza peace plan: the disarmament of Hamas. Speaking alongside Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Trump laid out a stark warning — Hamas must relinquish its arsenal voluntarily or face forced disarmament, “quickly and perhaps violently.”
Context: The Gaza Peace Plan and Recent Breakthroughs
Trump’s remarks come at a pivotal moment in his broader effort to broker an end to the two-year war between Israel and Hamas. In late September, the former president unveiled a 20-point peace proposal aimed at securing a ceasefire, hostage exchanges, international oversight, reconstruction, and the demilitarization of Gaza.
So far, the first phase has been partially implemented: Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, Hamas released the last 20 living hostages, and Israel released Palestinian detainees. However, the most contentious elements — namely, Hamas’s disarmament and Gaza’s future governance — remain unresolved.
Trump’s Ultimatum in Washington
During the White House meeting, Trump claimed he had already communicated with Hamas — via intermediaries — and insisted they agreed to disarm.
“I spoke to Hamas, and I said, ‘you’re going to disarm, right?’ ‘Yes, sir, we’re going to disarm.’ … If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.”
He refused to detail how the U.S. would force disarmament or set a fixed deadline, only stating the process would occur within a “reasonable period of time.” Trump’s phrasing was blunt: disarm voluntarily or be disarmed, even if force is necessary. 1
The sharper tone followed signs that Hamas has not fully honored the agreement. Only a fraction of the deceased hostages’ bodies have been returned, violating the timeline. Meanwhile, Israel has responded by tightening border restrictions and limiting humanitarian access to Gaza.
Trump’s warning signals a new test for his peace plan: whether it can move beyond symbolic progress to enforce compliance on the ground.
Key Issues and Risks Ahead
1. Enforcement Challenges
Trump’s plan hinges on credible enforcement. But how would the U.S. or its allies compel Hamas to disarm without reigniting hostilities? The risk of military confrontation looms large.
2. Legitimacy and Buy-in
Critics argue the peace plan lacks clarity on transitional governance, security arrangements, and Palestinian sovereignty. Without broad Arab and Palestinian support, its durability is uncertain.
3. Humanitarian and Security Fallout
Any forced disarmament operation would almost certainly produce instability in Gaza, complicating humanitarian access and reconstruction efforts already under strain.
4. Regional and Global Reactions
U.S. unilateral enforcement could provoke pushback from regional players — Egypt, Jordan, Qatar — who have been key mediators and whose cooperation is essential for long-term stability.
Looking Ahead
The meeting with Milei underscores how central the disarmament question is to Trump’s Gaza vision. Whether his ultimatum will produce compliance or backlash remains to be seen.
For now, the peace process enters its most uncertain phase: moving from fragile ceasefire toward the harder tasks of disarmament and postwar governance. If Hamas refuses, Trump may be forced to choose between credibility and escalation.