Trump warns Hamas, launches Board of Peace at Davos
Davos, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a stark warning to Hamas, saying the group would be “blown away” if it refuses to give up its weapons. He made the remarks while presiding over the signing ceremony of his Gaza-focused “Board of Peace”, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
Speaking at the high-profile event attended by world leaders and dignitaries, Trump said disarmament by Hamas was non-negotiable, calling it the first test of his newly launched peace framework. “If Hamas doesn’t agree to give up weapons, they’re going to be blown away,” he said, adding that Washington would know within “the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks” whether the group intends to comply.
Board of Peace launched
The ceremony marked the formal launch of the Board of Peace, which Trump described as a mechanism to oversee ceasefire enforcement, reconstruction, and security coordination in Gaza, with the potential to address conflicts beyond the region. Leaders from Bahrain and Morocco signed the charter at the table, while others, including Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, added their signatures in pairs.
“What we’re doing is so important,” Trump said. “This is something I really wanted to do, and I could think of no better place.” After signing the documents, he held them up to the cameras and invited other leaders to follow suit.
“One of the most consequential bodies ever created”
Trump will serve as the inaugural chairman of the board and described it as a body with enormous potential. “It has the potential to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created,” he said. “Just about every country wants to be a part of it.”
He claimed that once fully formed, the board would be able to operate broadly while working in conjunction with the United Nations, which he said added “tremendous potential” despite his past criticisms of the UN. He called the initiative “the first step toward a brighter day for the Middle East.”
Mixed reactions internationally
The launch has received a mixed response from US allies. The United Kingdom has held off joining the board amid concerns about possible participation by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this week, Trump also threatened to impose 200 percent tariffs on French wine after President Emmanuel Macron declined to take part.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair attended the ceremony, with Trump publicly thanking him for being present.
Broader foreign policy claims
Trump used the occasion to highlight his administration’s actions on the international stage, including US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last year, which he claimed had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity. He also touched on US operations against the Islamic State in Syria, saying global security threats were easing.
“Many good things are happening,” he said. “Dangers to Europe, America, and the Middle East are really calming down. Just one year ago the world was actually on fire.”
Trump reiterated his claim of having settled eight wars since taking office, adding that another settlement was “coming very soon.” On Ukraine, he struck a more cautious tone, saying the conflict “has turned out to be probably the most difficult” he has faced.
Calling the ceremony a “very exciting day, long in the making,” Trump concluded by saying “everybody” wants to be part of the Board of Peace and that he would continue to “work with many others, including the United Nations.”