2:51President Donald Trump addresses attendees during a session with Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the White House in Washington, October 14, 2025.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump, during a rapid 12 hours spent in the Middle East on Monday, hailed a "new beginning" for the territory as the opening stage of a truce accord he facilitated between Israel and Hamas began.
However, upon his return to Washington, Trump was met with difficult inquiries regarding future actions.
A significant point for guaranteeing sustained peace involves the Hamas disarmament, as specified within Trump's 20-point peace blueprint, but not distinctly tackled in the initial part of the deal.
ABC News White House Correspondent Karen Travers questioned Trump at the White House on Tuesday about the timeline for Hamas to comply and whether he could assure its completion.
"Well, they are slated to disarm, given they voiced their intent to do so. Should disarmament not occur, we will enforce it," Trump stated.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with President of Argentina Javier Milei in the Cabinet Room at the White House, October 14, 2025 in Washington.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
"How will this be accomplished?" ABC's Travers questioned.
"I’m not obliged to detail that to you, but should they refuse to disarm, we will enforce it. They are aware I am serious. … And should they balk, we will disarm them, likely with promptness and force. Yet they will disarm. Understood?" Trump remarked.
When further questioned about a deadline for Hamas to disarm, Trump specified "rather soon."
"Within a judicious timeframe," Trump clarified.
Hamas gunmen on pickup trucks escort buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners as they are greeted following their release from Israeli jails under a cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 13, 2025.Jehad Alshrafi/AP
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One during his overnight journey home, the president noted his present emphasis was on the revival of Gaza, left devastated after two years of conflict. The United Nations estimates the restoration of the territory may reach upwards of $70 billion.
However, Trump didn't delve into a concrete concept, implying that more intricate subjects like Palestinian sovereignty and governance of the Gaza Strip would be handled subsequently.
"Indeed, we must wait and see," Trump conveyed on the flight. "There are many favoring a unified state solution. Others prefer a two-state setup. We must assess."
Regarding bridging the divide, the president mentioned that he would eventually decide on "what I deem appropriate" in cooperation with other nations.
President Donald Trump speaks with the press on board Air Force One in Mildenhall, Suffolk, October 14, 2025.Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
When prompted for further insight on the second phase of his peace strategy and the negotiation status, Trump merely pointed out the considerable "influence" held by the assembly of global leaders convened in Egypt on Monday for discussions concerning Gaza’s future.
"Those are, as you recognize, truly affluent nations, equipped to address it," Trump commented.
Trump was flanked by leaders and delegates representing over 20 countries in Sharm El-Sheikh, where he and three mediators integral to the Israel-Hamas negotiations formalized a document endorsing his peace proposal.
Trump championed the memorandum as "groundbreaking," yet it seemed predominantly symbolic, lacking explicit specifics on subsequent steps, except for broad commitments from the U.S., Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar to "pursue a full-scale vision of peace, security, and mutual growth within the region, based upon values of shared respect and interconnected future."
Notably absent from Egypt and the document’s signing were representatives from Israel and Hamas.
President Donald Trump waits to greet leaders during a summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.Evan Vucci/AP
Emotional episodes played out in both Israel and Gaza on Monday, witnessing the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages reunite with their families and the liberation of Palestinian prisoners returning to Gaza — a considerable diplomatic feat for Trump following months of difficult negotiations.
Nonetheless, indicative of the fragile nature of the cessation agreement, Israel on Monday accused Hamas of a "blatant breach" due to their immediate failure to return all remains of four deceased captives. Subsequently, the U.N. announced that Israeli authorities planned to halve the number of trucks authorized to transport aid into Gaza in consequence.
During Tuesday’s White House briefing, when queried if Hamas would uphold their part of the bargain, President Trump replied: "Time will tell."
Trump further stated that Hamas "misreported" the count of deceased hostages, recognizing it as a "sensitive issue."
"Their return is my wish. That’s the assurance. I desire their return," he stated, regarding the corpses of the dead captives.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
