  The gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A associated with GW170817 is subluminous and
subenergetic compared with other typical short GRBs. It may be due to a
relativistic jet viewed off-axis, or a structured jet, or cocoon emission.
Giant flares from magnetars may possibly be ruled out. However, the luminosity
and energetics of GRB 170817A is coincident with that of magnetar giant flares.
After the coalescence of the binary neutron star, a hypermassive neutron star
may be formed. The hypermassive neutron star may have magnetar-strength
magnetic field. During the collapse of the hypermassive neutron star, the
magnetic field energy will also be released. This giant-flare-like event may
explain the the luminosity and energetics of GRB 170817A. Bursts with similar
luminosity and energetics are expected in future neutron star-neutron star or
neutron star-black hole mergers.
