Trump Says US Approved Hamas for Temporary Gaza Policing Role

US President Donald Trump has disclosed that Washington authorized Hamas to perform temporary policing functions in Gaza during the transitional period as approximately two million displaced Palestinians return to the war-ravaged enclave. The announcement came during Trump's flight to the Middle East for peace summit negotiations aimed at solidifying the ceasefire agreement.

"They do want to stop the problems, and they've been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. He explained the temporary measure aims to prevent criminal activity and maintain order as residents return to largely destroyed neighborhoods, noting "close to 2 million people going back to buildings that have been demolished, and a lot of bad things can happen. So we want it to be safe."

The US president firmly declared the Gaza conflict concluded, stating "The war is over, okay? You understand that?" when questioned about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position. Trump expressed confidence the ceasefire based on his 20-point proposal would hold, citing war fatigue and historical context: "I think people are tired of it. It's been centuries, not just recent. It's been centuries."

Trump outlined immediate reconstruction priorities, emphasizing debris removal from what he described as a "demolition site." He mentioned plans for a "Board of Peace" to govern Gaza but expressed uncertainty about including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The president also suggested his strike on Iran's nuclear facilities weakened Hamas's backers, making the group more willing to compromise.

Trump traveled with senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to co-chair the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The gathering includes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and over twenty other world leaders working to establish lasting regional stability following the ceasefire implementation that began Friday.