Exclusive: Trump says Hamas helped find last hostage, now must disarm
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Hamas fighters on Jan. 7 during search operations for Ran Gvili. Photo: Hamza Z. H. Qraiqea/Anadolu via Getty Images
President Trump told Axios in an interview on Monday that Hamas had helped locate the remains of the last Israeli hostage. He called on the group to now follow through on its commitment to disarm.
Why it matters: With the recovery of Ran Gvili's body, every Israeli hostage — living and dead — has now been returned. The return of his body is a critical moment for Trump's peace deal.
- Meanwhile, Israel says it will reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt in a "limited" capacity later this week.
- The opening of the crossing and the return of Gvili's body were the last major hurdles left over from phase one of Trump's deal.
- Attention can now fully turn to the second phase. It involves demilitarizing Gaza and bringing in a new government and security force.
What he's saying: Trump told Axios the search for the body and the identification process was "very tough" because the search teams "had to go through hundreds of bodies" in the area. "It was a hard scene."
- Trump gave Hamas credit for helping in the search efforts. "They worked very hard to get the body back. They were working with Israel on it. You can imagine how hard it was."
- A senior U.S. official confirmed that in a briefing with reporters on Monday afternoon. "I will say Hamas was very cooperative in this. They fulfilled the obligation that they signed up for."
What's next: "Now we have to disarm Hamas like they promised," Trump stressed.
Between the lines: There's a great deal of skepticism in Israel and the region that Hamas will peacefully disarm, and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will show restraint and let the process play out.
- But Trump noted that there was also skepticism that every live and deceased hostage would be returned under phase one, as has now happened. Israeli officials thought several bodies would be too difficult to recover.
Driving the news: "Nobody believed we would bring back all the hostages. It was a great moment," Trump said, adding that only the parents and other Israelis understand how important it is that all the remains come home.
- Trump said his advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner briefed him about the recovery on Monday morning. He then spoke to Netanyahu, who "was thrilled."
Behind the scenes: At the Board of Peace launch ceremony last Thursday, Trump said the U.S. and Israel were close to locating the last hostage.
- As he spoke, Israeli forces were preparing for a search operation in a cemetery in northern Gaza, which was partially based on information passed from Hamas.
Flashback: Trump met Gvili's parents in Mar-a-Lago last month when they joined his meeting with Netanyahu.
- "Please tell the parents I am very happy," Trump told Axios.
What to watch: The senior U.S. official told reporters that detailed negotiations with Hamas on the demilitarization plan will start this week.
- "We think disarmament comes along with some sort of amnesty [for Hamas members]. And, candidly, we think we have a very, very good program to disarm. We're in contact, or people representing us are in contact with them, and we expect it to happen," the official said.
- The official added that the rebuilding of Gaza will not occur until after demilitarization and the disarmament of Hamas. "That's the agreement that was made."
- At the same time, the official stressed that "Israel will honor their agreement to move back to the red line as the demilitarization takes place and the International Stabilization Force is launched."
