Gaza: Trump demands “complete and immediate demilitarization” from Hamas

Donald Trump has not forgotten everyone’s promises. The American president calls on Hamas, this Sunday, in a message posted on Truth Social, for “complete and immediate demilitarization”, as he committed to by signing the peace plan proposed by the United States last October.

“It is very important that Hamas respects its commitment to complete and immediate demilitarization,” declared Donald Trump, adding that the members of his “Peace Council” would announce, during a meeting on February 19 in Washington, allocating $5 billion for the reconstruction of the Palestinian territory.

The United States announced in mid-January the move to the second phase of Donald Trump’s plan aimed at definitively ending the war in Gaza. It provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal, the disarmament of Hamas and the deployment of an international stabilization force.

The Israeli army still controls more than half of the territory while Hamas, in power since 2007, categorically refuses to lay down its arms under the conditions set by Israel. Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement accuse each other of violating the ceasefire that came into force on October 10, after two years of war.

Will the “Peace Council” allow peace?

The “Peace Council” led by Donald Trump was designed to put an end to this war, but its charter assigns it a much broader objective, that of resolving armed conflicts in the world.

This body, inaugurated at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, has “limitless potential,” Donald Trump declared Sunday on Truth Social. At least 19 countries have signed its founding charter. Furthermore, the candidate states for a permanent seat had to pay an entry fee of one billion dollars.

Some — including France — refused to join, and others said they could only consider it if its charter was amended.

The 5 billion promised by the members of the council will be officially announced on February 19 in Washington, the body committing to providing “thousands of people for the International Stabilization Force (ISF) and the local police to ensure the security and peace of Gazans”, according to the American president. “The Peace Council will prove to be the most important international body in history,” he added.