US President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that “it looks like” Hamas is “going to disarm,” despite a senior Hamas official insisting otherwise hours earlier.

Trump did not provide any proof for the claim, which he made during a cabinet meeting.

Chiming in, his special envoy Steve Witkoff also insisted 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 Wednesday 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, touted the assistance Hamas provided in locating the bodies of the last........

© The Times of Israel