US President Donald Trump has warned the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas that it “must disarm — or be disarmed, perhaps by force,” according to a report by ITV News.
The British outlet explored various scenarios and challenges surrounding any attempt to strip Hamas of its weapons.
This warning came after the first stage of a ceasefire agreement was reached between the Israeli occupation and Hamas — a deal reportedly brokered by Trump himself following two years of brutal war.
Yet, according to the report, the truce remains fragile, as both sides accuse each other of violating its terms.
Trump’s “Peace Plan” and Israel’s Demands
Trump explained that his proposed “peace plan” for Gaza requires Hamas to surrender its weapons and relinquish authority — conditions the movement had firmly rejected in the past.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Trump’s position, declaring that the war would not “truly end” until Hamas is completely dismantled.
The report notes that Hamas still possesses light and medium-range weaponry capable of threatening Israel, including Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, locally made explosives, and rocket launchers.
Foreign Experts and Western Intervention Plans
Former British Army Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, who participated in disarmament operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, told ITV that Gaza contains “thousands of small arms,” much of which are buried in tunnels or difficult-to-access areas, possibly protected by booby traps.
Trump reportedly aims to form an “international stabilisation force” for Gaza — composed of Middle Eastern and Western nations — to oversee the transfer of power and collect weapons from Hamas.
However, de Bretton-Gordon warned of the grave risks of a superficial approach, recalling how confiscated weapons in Afghanistan later reappeared in the hands of the Taliban.
He stressed the need for “a comprehensive system ensuring the destruction of thousands of weapons permanently, so they cannot be reused.”
Hamas’ Position: Weapons Are Not Negotiable
The report reminds readers that Hamas has repeatedly affirmed that its weapons are non-negotiable.
The movement has never agreed to disarm, asserting that armed resistance is a legitimate right of a people under occupation — a stance deeply rooted in international law and Islamic principles of defensive jihad.
Is Northern Ireland a Possible Model?
The ITV report draws a comparison to the Northern Ireland disarmament experience, following the Good Friday Agreement (1998), when the Irish Republican Army (IRA) agreed — under international supervision — to gradually hand over its weapons.
Around 1,000 firearms, two tonnes of explosives, and several rockets and heavy weapons were destroyed as part of that process.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested that Britain could “assist” in disarming Hamas, citing “our experience in Northern Ireland,” describing such an operation as “difficult but necessary.”
Ground Realities and Internal Challenges
The report highlights that Gaza’s situation on the ground remains volatile, with armed groups and powerful families emerging to fill the power vacuum left after the Israeli army’s partial withdrawal.
It warns that if Hamas perceives a domestic threat from these factions, it may cling even more tightly to its weapons, regardless of Trump’s pressures.
The article concludes:
“Hamas has governed Gaza for nearly two decades, and its weapons have been integral to its survival. At present, it is difficult to imagine a scenario in which the movement would voluntarily give up this power. But, according to Trump, that is the precondition for any lasting peace.”
Analysis: Between Political Illusion and Colonial Intent
While Western leaders frame “disarming Hamas” as a step toward peace, the proposal reflects a colonial mindset that seeks to disarm the oppressed while arming the occupier.
For the Palestinian people, weapons represent not aggression, but dignity, deterrence, and the right to defend their land — especially after decades of blockade, displacement, and mass killing in Gaza.
The notion that Washington or London — both long complicit in arming Israel — could “supervise peace” in Gaza reveals the hypocrisy of Western diplomacy.
True peace cannot be achieved by stripping Palestinians of resistance; it begins with ending the occupation and restoring justice and sovereignty.
