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President Donald Trump sent a stern message to Hamas on Tuesday, warning the terrorist network that if it does not disarm, “we will disarm them.”
“He said they are going to disarm, and if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them,” he told reporters at the White House during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Meili.
Trump’s comments came a day after all 20 surviving hostages were released to Israel after nearly 740 days in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, although most of the 28 dead hostages have not been returned.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Meili at the White House on October 14, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
After Trump’s declaration ‘the war is over’, Hamas kills rivals in Gaza to establish control
Hamas agreed to return all living and dead hostages within 72 hours of the deal with Israel, a deadline that officially began on Saturday and ended on Monday.
But Hamas said it might not be able to locate all the bodies of the dead, including Americans Omar Neutra and Itay Chen, and an international task force was set up over the weekend to track them down.
“Most of all, bring back the hostages,” Trump said. He said Hamas had “misrepresented” how many bodies it would be able to bring back.
Three photos of families meeting with hostages freed by Hamas on Monday, October 13, 2025, when a ceasefire agreement took effect. (IDF)
Details revealed about the medical conditions of freed Israeli hostages, what they endured in captivity
“I want him back. That’s what he said. I want him back,” Trump said. “Also, they said they were going to disarm.”
Trump did not clarify what actions he would take to “disarm” Hamas by force, although he has said he would support Israel in pursuing its full military ambitions in the Gaza Strip if the terrorist network refuses to give up its weapons.
The second phase of the agreement was to begin with a disarmament phase, which was scheduled to begin after the return of all hostages.
People walk past posters of hostages taken by Hamas in Gaza at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on October 10, 2025. (Ahmad Gharbali/AFP via Getty Images)
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But Trump suggested in a Truth Social post on Tuesday that Phase II had already begun, when he said, “All 20 hostages are back and feeling as good as could be expected. A huge burden has been lifted, but the job is not done. As promised, the dead have not been returned! Phase II is just beginning!!!”
Once Hamas disarms, the Israel Defense Forces will also withdraw from the enclave.
