U.S. Military Warns Hamas to Stand Down as Trump Vows Disarmament if Terror Group Breaks Peace
The U.S. military issued a stern warning to Hamas on Wednesday, urging the terror group to cease its escalating violence in Gaza just days after President Donald Trump reiterated that Hamas must disarm — or face American-led consequences.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), called on Hamas to stop its attacks on civilians and honor the terms of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which has thus far delivered a fragile but historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza — in both Hamas-held parts of Gaza and those secured by the IDF behind the Yellow Line,” Cooper said in a statement. “This is an historic opportunity for peace … Hamas must disarm without delay.”
The statement comes as Hamas gunmen have carried out public executions of accused Israeli collaborators, battled rival factions, and attempted to reassert dominance in several neighborhoods vacated by Israeli Defense Forces as part of the truce. Seven men were executed in public on Monday alone, triggering renewed concern from mediators and regional observers.
President Trump, speaking Tuesday, warned Hamas that any backtracking on disarmament would trigger a direct U.S. response.
“They’re going to disarm because they said they were going to disarm,” Trump told reporters. “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them. They know I’m not playing games.”
While the first phase of Trump’s peace plan — including a full ceasefire and release of the 20 surviving Israeli hostages — has been implemented, the next phases hinge on Hamas surrendering its weapons and control over the Gaza Strip, which the group has not yet agreed to.
CENTCOM: No U.S. Boots on the Ground, But Peace Will Be Enforced
Confusion over U.S. troop deployments in the region led to clarification from the White House this week. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the U.S. is not sending new troops into Israel or Gaza.
“To be clear: up to 200 U.S. personnel, who are already stationed at CENTCOM, will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel, and they will work with other international forces on the ground,” Leavitt said. “These reports of U.S. troops being deployed were NOT true and taken out of context.”
Vice President JD Vance echoed this stance on NBC News, saying, “We’re not planning to put boots on the ground. What we already have is a U.S. Central Command presence. They’ll ensure the humanitarian aid is flowing and the ceasefire holds.”
CENTCOM’s area of responsibility spans 21 countries in the Middle East, giving the U.S. strategic reach across the region without needing to expand its military footprint.
Israel Still Waiting on Hostage Bodies, Casts Doubt on Hamas Promises
As American officials urge Hamas to stay the course, Israel is accusing the group of violating key terms of the agreement. While Hamas released the 20 remaining living hostages earlier this week, it has yet to deliver the remains of dozens of Israelis who died in captivity.
On Wednesday, the IDF confirmed that one of the four bodies returned so far does not match any known hostage — raising further doubts about Hamas’ intentions and record-keeping.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office demanded Hamas return all 28 deceased hostages as agreed, saying, “We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them.”
The Trump administration maintains that future stages of the peace plan — including the disarmament of Hamas and installation of an interim government in Gaza — will proceed with or without Hamas’ full cooperation.
But with growing signs of resistance from the terror group, all eyes are now on how Trump will enforce the next phase of his plan — and whether Hamas will comply, or escalate.