Trump claims ‘it looks like’ Hamas will disarm; Witkoff: They’ll give up their AK-47s

US President Donald Trump says that “it looks like” Hamas is “going to disarm.”

He doesn’t provide any proof for the claim made during a cabinet meeting, and Hamas officials, as recently as several hours ago, had insisted that wasn’t the case.

Chiming in, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff also insists that Hamas will demilitarize. “They will because they have no choice. They’re going to give up their AK-47s.”

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said yesterday that Hamas will also be urged to cede its weapons via an international buy-back program, providing new details regarding the program Washington plans to advance to disarm the terror group.

Waltz’s remarks confirmed The Times of Israel’s reporting from recent months about plans to institute a “buy-back” program where participants would be given funds or jobs and amnesty if they agree to hand over their weapons.

It is part of a broader decommissioning initiative that the Gaza ceasefire mediators are pushing that would see Hamas gradually hand over its arms, starting with its heavy weaponry, Arab diplomats have told The Times of Israel. Israel is unlikely to accept this gradual process that prioritizes heavy weaponry over light weaponry, given that the latter category has also been used by Hamas to maintain its grip on Gaza.

Trump, during the cabinet meeting again, touts the assistance Hamas provided in locating the bodies of the last deceased hostages still held in Gaza — help that Israel has yet to confirm.

“Hamas was a big factor in getting all of the hostages back. They found the dead hostages,” Trump says. “Between Israel and Hamas working together, they got them back.”