Ceasefire Phase Two: Trump Demands Hamas Disarm

After the return of the last Israel hostage, facilitated by Hamas, Trump is demanding that Hamas disarm as part of Phase Two of the ceasefire deal.  But disarmament is only one of several provisions of the next stage..  They make demands of Israel as well, which it has not fulfilled and has no intention of fulfilling.

They call for IDF withdrawal from Gaza, 50% of which it currently occupies.  It not only shows no signs of leaving, Trump’s so-called negotiators have devised plans for Israel-controlled “Alternative Safe Communities” (aka concentration camps), which will be neither alternative, nor safe.

They’re calling it “New Rafah.” Each camp would house (i.e. imprison) 25,000 Gazans, offering them the prospect of hospitals, “coastal tourism,” “data centers,” “mixed use towers,” housing, schools–none of which will ever, or can ever be implemented.  Israel will be happy to implement the prison, but will never permit the amenities.  In fact, Bibi Netanyahu just told the Knesset “the next stage is not reconstruction, it is the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.”

🚨 Following the recovery of the body of Ran Gvili, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that Israel is not preparing to allow reconstruction in Gaza anytime soon, despite U.S. and international expectations tied to the next phases of the ceasefire.

Speaking in the… https://t.co/sxmknSN1to pic.twitter.com/dRam7IEG0K

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) January 26, 2026

Those who created this plan are either naive regarding Israeli intentions; or they know Israel will not permit it and cynically perfect a plan in which only the most desperate Palestinians (if any) would participate.

Hamas’ disarmament was dependent on the formation of a Stabilization Force to be composed of security personnel from countries which signed the original 20-point ceasefire plan. They included UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, etc.  However, none have agreed to participate due, at in part, to Israel’s refusal to fulfill its end of the bargain, and Trump’s refusal to compel its compliance.

The ceasefire deal also calls for the reconstruction of Gaza, which will require $80-billion in funding and the import of massive amounts of construction equipment and supplies, along with personnel to clear rubble and rebuilt housing.  None of the funding has materialized, despite Kushner’s announcement of a donor conference “in the coming weeks.”  Presumably the New Rafah (concentration camp) plan is meant as the reconstruction operation.  But given how out of touch they are with reality on the ground, and Israel’s almost certain refusal to permit it, rebuilding is a chimera.

Phase Two also calls for the full reopening of all crossing allowing for the free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.  Israel has only agreed to the “partial” reopening of one of them, Rafah.  It has not and likely will not reopen the Israeli crossings, which is called for under the deal.  Further, when Israel has announced reopening of crossings in the past, it hasn’t done so.  In other words, Israel is oblivious to its own obligations.  The only rules are those imposed on its enemies.

News headlines that this development “clears the way” or “paves the way” for Phase Two are premature.  Phase Two can never begin as long as the only party of whom demands are made is Hamas.  Despite Trump’s one-sided demand, Hamas released a conciliatory statement on this subject:

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the recovery of Gvili’s body, “confirms Hamas’s commitment to all the terms of the agreement to halt the war on the Gaza Strip, including the exchange track and its full completion in accordance with the agreement. Hamas will continue to adhere to all aspects of the agreement, including facilitating the work of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and ensuring its success.”

Qassem called on all mediators of the ceasefire, and the U.S. in particular, to compel Israel “to stop its violations of the agreement and to implement the obligations required of it.“

Hamas undoubtedly knows Israel will not comply based on past experience.  But this statement allows it to put pressure on both Trump and Israel, since it can now point to its willingness, and Israel’s refusal to fulfill their mutual obligations.  The president’s one-sided demand doesn’t bode well.  But considering how mercurial he is, perhaps that will change.  I wouldn’t hold my breath.