U.S. Pushes for Next Phase of Gaza Ceasefire, Demands Hamas Action
The United States is leading a concerted diplomatic push to advance a fragile Gaza ceasefire into a more permanent phase, with a central demand that the militant group Hamas disarm and fulfill its remaining obligations. The White House has confirmed that the U.S.-backed proposal is now moving into its second stage, which aims to secure a lasting end to hostilities and the full release of hostages [50211].
A senior U.S. official stated that returning the remains of the last known deceased hostage is an "immediate" obligation for Hamas under the agreement [50169]. This demand was echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the second phase of the ceasefire should start "very shortly," conditional on the return of those remains [20588].
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Hamas, declaring the group must give up its weapons soon. "If Hamas doesn't disarm very soon, there will be hell to pay," Trump stated, a sentiment he repeated in multiple discussions with Netanyahu [37368][38041]. A top U.S. envoy similarly warned Hamas of "serious consequences" if it rejects the new American proposal, which includes establishing a temporary, non-political administration in Gaza [50036].
The diplomatic pressure comes as on-the-ground actions continue. Hamas has transferred the remains of deceased hostages in recent days, with the International Committee of the Red Cross facilitating the handovers as part of the ceasefire deal [17220][12297]. However, Hamas has also threatened to halt progress, stating it will not move to the next phase unless Israel stops what it calls violations, including deadly strikes, and allows more aid into Gaza [21622].
The United Nations has urged all parties to fulfill their commitments, emphasizing that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains severe despite the diplomatic efforts [50211]. The U.S. has separately called for a major increase in humanitarian aid to reach all parts of Gaza, linking the flow of assistance to the success of the ceasefire negotiations [30569].
As the process advances, a key point of contention involves the critical Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Israel has stated it will permit the crossing to reopen only after all hostages are returned, and has proposed allowing Gazans one-way departures into Egypt as part of the second phase [17977][18876].
The international push now centers on compelling Hamas to meet the final terms on hostages and disarmament to unlock the next stage of the plan, which promises reconstruction and a more durable peace [38041].
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