Washington pledges full support
U.S. Offical Defends Hamas: "They Did Not Break the Deal, We Can't Reach all the Bodies"
Senior Trump administration official says Hamas lacks the heavy equipment to locate every body in Gaza, promises a U.S. “reward program” for information on missing hostages. Trump: “If Hamas breaks the deal, Israel goes back in.”
A senior U.S. official said Wednesday night that Washington does not believe Hamas has violated the ceasefire agreement regarding the return of hostage remains, claiming the group faces “severe logistical barriers” in recovering bodies buried beneath Gaza’s rubble.
Speaking during a briefing call with reporters, the official told families that “we are doing everything to bring every fallen hostage home. No one will be left behind.” He confirmed that the Trump administration is planning to launch a cash-reward program for anyone providing credible information on the locations of hostage remains.
“Hamas doesn’t have the heavy machinery needed for such recovery,” the official said. “It’s almost impossible for them to reach all the dead hostages. We’ve asked Israel to share intelligence that could help locate the bodies and to push Hamas to do more.”
He added that a “stabilization force” is being built in Gaza, with several countries, including Indonesia, volunteering to participate.
“No money for Gaza reconstruction will go to Hamas-controlled areas, and no Gazans will be forced to leave,” he said. The official also revealed that Washington has begun recruiting Palestinians from abroad and from non-Hamas-aligned territories to help form a transitional civil administration in post-Hamas Gaza. “These are Palestinians who feel they’ve lived under a mafia,” he said.
Trump: “Israel Can Return to Gaza the Moment I Say So”
In a separate CNN interview, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that if Hamas fails to comply with the ceasefire, he will authorize Israel to resume military operations in Gaza immediately.
“Israel can go back into Gaza the moment I give the word,” Trump said. “What’s happening with Hamas will be fixed quickly.”
Trump confirmed he is examining reports that Hamas has executed innocent Palestinians. “We’ll look into it, it could be gangs, or something beyond that,” he said.
Addressing Hamas’s disarmament, Trump stated: “If Hamas doesn’t hand over its weapons, we’ll make sure it happens. We won’t need U.S. troops on the ground for that.”
He also mentioned a new “safe zones plan” proposed by the U.S., turning Rafah, the only area not under Hamas control, into a model city “to show how Gaza can function without the terror group.”
Iran and Regional Moves
On Iran, Trump claimed the regime is now focused only on its own survival:
“When I heard two weeks ago that Iran wants to build a nuclear weapon, I said: don’t worry about it. They have a lot to do before that. If they tried, the site would be gone before they finished.”
The president also noted that 59 nations are now part of the ceasefire and regional peace framework, adding: “We’ve never seen anything like this. They all want in on the Abraham Accords.”
Meanwhile, he confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected at the White House on Friday as part of ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
“We’re working hard on the Russia issue,” Trump said. “But in Gaza, they’re digging, finding bodies, dealing with rubble. It’s tough work. We’ll help Israel, but we won’t need American boots on the ground.”