Trump hopes to reach phase two of Gaza ceasefire ‘very quickly’

Donald Trump has said he hopes to reach phase two of the Gaza peace plan “very quickly” and warned that Hamas will have to “pay for it” if it does not disarm soon.

The US president, whose 20-point peace plan requires the militant group to disarm, made the comments as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida for talks on Monday.

During a press conference with Netanyahu after their meeting, Trump said Israel had “implemented the plan 100%” despite ongoing attacks by its military in the Gaza Strip.

The US president also said his country could support another major strike against Iran if it resumed rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs.

In response to Trump's threat, Iran's supreme leader's chief political adviser, Ali Shamkhani, said on X that any aggression against Iran would be met with an “immediate, harsh response.”

Asked how quickly Hamas and Israel should move to the second phase of the peace plan, Trump replied: “As quickly as possible. But there must be disarmament.”

Referring to Hamas, he said: “If they don't disarm as they agreed, they agreed to it, and then hell will pay for them.

“They must disarm in a fairly short time.”

Trump also said that reconstruction of Gaza could “begin pretty soon.”

Gaza peace plan took effect in October. In the second stage, a technocratic government will be created in the devastated territory, Hamas will disarm, and Israeli troops will leave. Then the reconstruction of Gaza will begin.

But critics have speculated that Netanyahu may try to delay the implementation of the plan and instead insist that Hamas disarm before Israeli troops withdraw.

The Israeli Prime Minister is accused of being unwilling to seriously address the issue of the Palestinians' political future.

Hamas officials said complete disarmament must occur in parallel with progress toward the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Asked if he was concerned that Israel was not moving quickly enough to complete the second phase of the plan, Trump replied that it had “accomplished the plan.”

“I'm not worried about what Israel is doing, I'm worried about what other people are doing or perhaps not doing,” he added.

Since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 414 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The Israeli military, which controls more than half of the Gaza Strip, said it opened fire only in response to ceasefire violations. He accused Hamas of killing three Israeli soldiers during the same period.

During the press briefing, Trump also warned that the US would launch new attacks on Iran if it was found to be using various facilities to develop nuclear weapons.

In June Trump says US air and missile strikes have 'destroyed' Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

“I hope they don't try to start the buildup again, because if they do, we will have no choice but to eradicate this buildup,” he said.

Trump said he had “read” that the country was using “perhaps different sites” than the ones attacked over the summer.

Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, on Monday called the reports a “psychological operation” against Tehran.

He said he was fully prepared to defend himself and warned that renewed aggression would “lead to more severe consequences” for Israel.

The Trump-Netanyahu talks also focused on other regional flashpoints, including Syria and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Netanyahu said Monday that Israel was committed to a peaceful border with Syria, while Trump said he hoped Israel would get along with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after longtime authoritarian leader Bashar al-Assad was ousted last year.

Israel is suspicious of the new leader, who was once a member of al-Qaeda, and bombed government buildings in Damascus in July.

“Well, I hope he [Netanyahu] I will get along with Syria because the new president of Syria is working very hard to do a good job,” Trump said.

“He really is. I know he's a tough guy. And you know, you won’t get a choir boy to lead Syria.”

Trump signed an executive order in June end US sanctions against Syria.