Following the first-stage hostage and prisoner exchange on October 13, international attention has shifted to the second phase of peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Central to the talks is the contentious issue of Hamas disarmament.
U.S. President Trump publicly warned on October 14 that Hamas must disarm voluntarily, or the U.S. would intervene “quickly and forcefully.” He later stated that Hamas had given a verbal commitment, though specifics regarding timing and implementation remain vague.
Over the past two years, Hamas has repeatedly expressed willingness to relinquish political control of Gaza, but disarmament has remained a red line. The group has only agreed to comply with the armament-related provisions of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, including dismantling military infrastructure and granting amnesty to members committed to peaceful coexistence.
Tensions, however, remain unresolved. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli authorities have reduced daily aid trucks entering Gaza by half to 300, limited fuel and liquefied gas to humanitarian facilities, and delayed the planned opening of the Rafah border crossing. These measures leave hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents facing shortages of food and medical supplies. In response, on the evening of October 14 (Middle East time), Hamas delivered four bodies of deceased hostages to the Red Cross for transfer to Israel. Previously, four bodies had been handed over, but 23 hostages are still believed dead, with one remaining missing.
Within Gaza, Hamas has gradually reasserted control over city streets, deploying security forces, clearing debris, repairing water systems, and cracking down on internal violators, armed looters, and drug traffickers. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues drone and airstrike operations, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement.