Germany sees Trump's Gaza plan as opportunity to disarm Hamas
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Germany's foreign ministry said Monday that President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza offers an opportunity to disarm Hamas. The statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan, insisting on full disarmament before any withdrawal.
Germany's Assessment
A German foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters on August 10 that the Trump administration's Gaza plan could help disarm Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the EU and US. The plan, unveiled by Trump on January 15, 2026, includes a U.S.-led 'Peace Council' and international stabilization forces. The ministry acknowledged anticipated disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem, stating that 'in such a complex task, it was completely obvious that many questions would remain unanswered.' Despite Netanyahu's rejection, Berlin views the plan as a framework for progress.
Netanyahu's Rejection
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on August 9 rejected Trump's 'Peace Council' plan, declaring that the Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed. 'I mean heavy weapons, lighter weapons, all types of weapons — real disarmament, not a fictitious one,' he said at a government meeting. Netanyahu asserted that Hamas remains capable of attacking Israel, but has refrained due to fear of a massive retaliation. His remarks came amid campaigning for the October 27 parliamentary elections. Hamas's 2023 attack killed approximately 1,200 people and captured 250 hostages, some of whom remain in Gaza.
Trump's Peace Council
President Donald Trump announced on January 15, 2026, the creation of a U.S.-led 'Peace Council' to manage Gaza's reconstruction after the Israel-Hamas war. The plan, part of Trump's broader peace proposal, also calls for the deployment of multinational stabilization forces and the disarmament of Hamas. On January 14, U.S. envoy Steven Witkoff announced a transition to the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes these measures. In December 2025, Hamas signaled willingness to disarm under conditions including a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
What's Next
The U.S. administration is expected to press Israel and other stakeholders to accept the plan in the coming weeks. However, Netanyahu's electoral campaign and Hamas's past conditions for disarming create significant obstacles, leaving the plan's future uncertain.
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Germany sees Trump's Gaza plan as opportunity to disarm Hamas
