Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Dec 30 : US President Donald Trump on Monday said Hamas has been given a “very short period of time” to disarm, warning that failure to comply would invite severe consequences. Trump made the remarks while appearing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint press conference in Florida.
The announcement came as Netanyahu declared that Trump would be awarded Israel’s highest civilian honour, the Israel Prize, citing the US President’s “tremendous contributions” to Israel’s security and regional stability.
Trump said Hamas had agreed in principle to disarm and would now be expected to follow through within a limited timeframe. “If they don’t disarm, as they agreed to do, they’ll be held to pay for it,” Trump said, adding that the militant group must comply “within a fairly short period of time.”
He warned that failure by Hamas could trigger action not only from Israel but also from other countries backing the current peace framework. Trump claimed that as many as 59 nations were aligned behind the effort and could act independently if Hamas reneged on its commitment.
“They don’t even need Israel,” Trump said, asserting that international partners could take decisive action if necessary, though he added that he still hoped the group would comply peacefully.
Trump said US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner would oversee the disarmament process from the American side. He also clarified that Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza would not be linked to Hamas disarmament, describing the two issues as separate.
The US President maintained that Israel had fully complied with the existing peace plan. “They’ve lived up to the plan 100 per cent,” Trump said, dismissing concerns over delays.
Linking the broader peace initiative to US policy on Iran, Trump said recent diplomatic momentum was made possible by American action against Tehran. He warned that any renewed Iranian military buildup would face a swift response.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, praised Trump as Israel’s strongest ally, describing their cooperation as “a partnership second to none.” He credited Trump’s leadership with helping Israel navigate recent conflicts and secure regional agreements.
Announcing the Israel Prize for Trump an honour traditionally reserved for Israeli citizens Netanyahu said the decision reflected broad public sentiment across Israel’s political spectrum. The award will be formally presented on Israel’s Independence Day.
Trump described the recognition as a “great honour” and thanked Netanyahu for their personal friendship. He referred to Netanyahu as a “wartime prime minister” and said Israel might not have endured recent crises under different leadership.
Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007 and is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States. Previous ceasefire efforts have repeatedly faltered over disarmament and security guarantees, making Trump’s ultimatum a significant escalation even as diplomatic engagement in the region continues.