Trump says contacts with Hamas are advancing as disarmament talks continue

Tuesday 18 August 2026 - 10:32

By: Azzat Manal

Trump says contacts with Hamas are advancing as disarmament talks continue

US President Donald Trump has said that American contacts with Hamas are making progress, while suggesting that the Palestinian movement could eventually agree to give up its weapons. His remarks come as Washington intensifies diplomatic efforts to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza and move negotiations toward a second phase.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States has a separate and largely undisclosed channel of communication with Hamas. He expressed confidence that the group would ultimately abandon its weapons, without providing detailed information about the negotiations or the timetable for such a step.

Trump also called on Israel to refrain from launching further attacks on the Gaza Strip at the current stage. The statement reflects Washington's efforts to prevent renewed military escalation while discussions continue over the implementation of the next phase of the proposed peace framework.

Hamas welcomed Trump's call for Israel to halt attacks. The movement's spokesman, Hazem Qassem, said the group viewed the remarks as an indication that the US president remained committed to the ceasefire process. He also urged Washington to put pressure on the Israeli government to implement existing commitments and advance toward the second stage of the plan.

The latest developments come amid intensified US diplomatic activity surrounding the future of Gaza. Trump's envoys, including Jared Kushner, Tony Blair and Nikolay Mladenov, are expected to hold discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials on the next steps.

The talks are expected to address Trump's broader 20-point Gaza plan as well as a separate framework concerning the disarmament of Hamas. The issue remains one of the most difficult elements of the negotiations, alongside questions concerning security arrangements, governance and the implementation of the ceasefire.

According to reports, Kushner has also held discussions with Hamas political bureau chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt. The meeting reportedly lasted more than two hours and involved representatives from intermediary countries, including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.

Hamas has meanwhile called on mediators and the US-backed body overseeing the ceasefire agreement to increase pressure on Israel to accept the proposed roadmap and fulfill its obligations. The movement has stressed that progress toward the next phase depends on respect for existing agreements and an end to military attacks in Gaza.

The diplomatic efforts highlight the difficulties facing the next stage of the Gaza process. While Washington is seeking to maintain momentum toward a broader settlement, major disagreements remain between Israel and Hamas over disarmament, security, governance and the practical implementation of the proposed arrangements.

The coming weeks are therefore expected to be crucial for determining whether the current diplomatic channels can produce concrete agreements and prevent a return to large-scale hostilities in Gaza.