Trump Cites 'Hamas' Disarmament as Key Hurdle in Mar-a-Lago Summit; Phase Two Deal Unlikely by January

MAR-A-LAGO, FL – In a high-stakes bilateral summit pivotal for the future of the Gaza truce, U.S. President Donald Trump explicitly named "Hamas" as the primary obstacle to a permanent agreement on Monday, December 29, 2025. The remarks, delivered alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signal a unified U.S.-Israeli stance that conditions any future "Phase Two" governance structure on the total demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.

During a joint appearance following the closed-door talks, President Trump confirmed the specific focus of the dialogue. "We agreed on most of the things," Trump stated. "We talked about Hamas and disarmament."

The direct invocation of the group by name resolves immediate speculation regarding the President's public stance and underscores Washington's alignment with Jerusalem: the transition from the current "Phase One" ceasefire to a permanent resolution is non-negotiable without disarmament.

Market Implications: Phase Two Timeline Stalled

While the meeting showcased diplomatic unity, the rhetoric casts significant doubt on the finalization of a Phase Two deal by the end of January—a timeline heavily scrutinized by geopolitical analysts and investors.

The deadlock is stark. Just hours prior to the Mar-a-Lago summit, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades—Hamas’s armed wing—released a statement categorically rejecting disarmament, viewing their arsenal as their only remaining leverage. With the U.S. President now publicly backing Israel's demand for full demilitarization, the diplomatic gap has widened, suggesting a timeline for a permanent deal that extends well into 2026.

Status of the Truce

Despite the impasse on long-term governance, the "Phase One" ceasefire implemented in October 2025 remains technically intact. While reports from the past week confirmed limited Israeli airstrikes in response to localized truce violations, the overarching cessation of large-scale combat holds. However, the Mar-a-Lago summit confirms that while the ceasefire is not currently collapsing, the diplomatic momentum required to reach the next milestone has hit a hard wall.

President Trump also utilized the platform to address broader regional security, warning Iran against rebuilding nuclear capabilities degraded earlier this year, stating the U.S. would "knock them down" if necessary. Yet, it was the explicit conditionality placed on Hamas that dominated the agenda, effectively placing the onus on the militant group to accept disarmament or face prolonged diplomatic stagnation.