Gazans Are Killing Each Other
CENTCOM Boss Demands Hamas Disarm NOW: 'Stop Shooting Your Own People'
US Admiral Brad Cooper calls on Hamas to cease violence against Palestinian civilians and disarm immediately, supporting Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza stability.
In a forceful and highly unusual direct address to the terrorist group Hamas, Admiral Brad Cooper, the Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), today issued a stark warning and an urgent plea, demanding that the group immediately cease all violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza to preserve a fragile peace process.
Adm. Cooper's statement, released from CENTCOM headquarters, explicitly accused Hamas of targeting non-combatants in both areas under its control and in zones secured by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) behind the recently established 'Yellow Line', the agreed-upon repositioning boundary for Israeli forces under the new ceasefire agreement.
"We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza, in both Hamas-held parts of Gaza and those secured by the IDF behind the Yellow Line," the statement read.
The Path to Peace: 'Trump's 20-Point Plan'
The CENTCOM chief framed the current situation as a pivotal moment for the region, directly tying the cessation of violence to the complete implementation of the diplomatic framework brokered by President Donald Trump.
"This is an historic opportunity for peace. Hamas should seize it by fully standing down, strictly adhering to President Trump's 20-point peace plan, and disarming without delay," Cooper asserted.
The "20-point peace plan," which brought about a recent ceasefire and the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces to the Yellow Line, outlines a detailed framework that includes the release of remaining hostages, humanitarian aid surges, and, critically, the demilitarization of Gaza and the establishment of a transitional governing body of Palestinian technocrats.
Admiral Cooper's demand for "disarming without delay" signals that the U.S. is prioritizing the second, more challenging phase of the Trump plan, which aims to ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to its neighbors.