Trump praises Hamas for enthusiastically helping to recover Israeli captive's body, pushes for its disarmament

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Hamas played a direct role in helping Israel locate and recover the body of the last Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip, a remarkable statement that broke the traditional pattern of American rhetoric towards the movement, and came loaded with political messages that went beyond the humanitarian event itself. Trump considered this cooperation, which he described as "rare," proof that communication with adversaries is possible when interests intersect, but at the same time stressed that this step must be completed by disarming Hamas as a crucial condition for any future for Gaza.

In an interview with the American website Axios, Trump said that Hamas "worked hard" to facilitate the recovery of the remains, indicating direct or indirect coordination between it and the Israeli side. He added that this incident constitutes practical evidence that the movement is capable of adhering to specific understandings when it wishes to do so, before linking this behavior to the necessity of moving to what he described as the "next stage," meaning the dismantling of the movement's military structure. Trump said in a firm tone: "Now is the time for disarmament, as they promised."

Trump's statements came after the Israeli army announced the recovery of the remains of Israeli police Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili, during a special operation carried out in Gaza City based on recent intelligence information. While official Israeli statements focused on military and intelligence efforts, Trump's statements seemed different in tone, as he unusually highlighted Hamas's role in facilitating the operation, which observers considered an attempt to reframe the political scene surrounding the post-ceasefire phase.

In a subsequent briefing, a senior American official reinforced President Trump's narrative, confirming that Hamas was "very cooperative" during the recovery operation, and that it adhered to arrangements agreed upon within the framework of the ceasefire. The official criticized what he described as the "political hysteria" that surrounded the hostage file, considering that field cooperation, however limited, led to tangible results that cannot be denied.

The official explained that the recovery operation took place through a "coordination cell" supported by the United States, established at the beginning of the ceasefire in October 2025, and included Israel and regional mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. The Trump administration presented this mechanism as a model of "hard pragmatism" that allows for the achievement of specific goals even in the midst of open conflicts.

Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, also pointed to the multinational nature of this coordination, praising the role of the United States, Israel, and regional countries, in addition to what he called "the cooperation of local residents in Gaza," in facilitating the return of the bodies of all deceased hostages. American officials considered the operation a diplomatic and logistical success, despite the secrecy surrounding its details.

The American administration acknowledged that it was not certain of the possibility of recovering all hostages, and that it was prepared to move forward with Trump's broader plan for Gaza even if some remained missing. An American official said that the recent success spared the administration highly sensitive political and moral decisions.

However, the core of Trump's discourse, according to officials, revolves around disarming Hamas. The administration has repeatedly affirmed that the reconstruction and stability of Gaza are conditional on the dismantling of armed groups. An American official indicated that the twenty-point American plan includes the possibility of granting amnesty to Hamas fighters who agree to disarm.

The Israeli occupation government welcomed the principle of "amnesty for disarmament," despite the internal criticism it provoked, while Hamas reiterated its public rejection of any harm to its weapons. However, American officials confirm that the movement signed broader understandings that include this clause, warning that Trump may resort to "other measures" if there is no compliance.

The American administration says it is working with Israel and regional mediators, including Turkey, on an organized disarmament program, in parallel with arrangements to reopen the Rafah crossing, support the formation of a local Palestinian security force, and activate the Peace Council recently launched by Trump to oversee post-war arrangements.

According to informed sources, the recovery of the last hostage's remains was not just the end of a thorny humanitarian file for Trump, but rather turned into a political card in which he sees evidence that pressure can yield cooperation, provided that it ultimately leads to a radical change in Gaza's security reality.

Trump's statements reveal a new American approach based on investing any pragmatic behavior by Hamas to transform it into a broader political entry point, not as recognition of the movement, but as an additional pressure tool. Focusing on Hamas's cooperation in a sensitive humanitarian file gives Washington room to justify more stringent demands later, foremost among them disarmament, while presenting this to public opinion as a logical and gradual path, not as a unilateral imposition.

In contrast, this discourse raises questions about the limits of American pragmatism, and whether Washington is overstating a limited incident as an indicator of Hamas's readiness for strategic change. The recent history of the conflict suggests that tactical cooperation does not necessarily mean a deep political transformation, which makes Trump's bet on disarmament a real test of the ability of American pressure to re-engineer the scene in Gaza.