The U.S. State Department issued a warning on Saturday, stating there are “credible reports” that Hamas might breach the peace agreement through “premeditated attacks” against Palestinian civilians. They emphasized that this kind of planned assault directly contravenes the ceasefire terms and jeopardizes the efforts made through mediation.
The department’s statement also called on Hamas to uphold its commitments under the ceasefire, adding that the U.S. and other parties involved remain dedicated to ensuring the safety of civilians and promoting peace in Gaza and the wider region.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas started last weekend after two years of conflict that escalated after the attack on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel.
On Monday, in line with the ceasefire, the 20 remaining Israeli hostages were returned to their home country. However, the bodies of more than a dozen others murdered are still under Hamas’s control. The State Department warned that if Hamas persists with its attacks, appropriate measures would be taken to safeguard residents of Gaza and maintain the ceasefire’s integrity.
Earlier in the week, President Trump posted a stern warning on Truth Social after videos surfaced showing Hamas fighters executing Palestinians in a central square in Gaza City. He stated, “If Hamas continues to kill people in the Gaza Strip, contrary to the agreement, we will have no choice but to move in and kill them.”
Reports suggest that at least 33 individuals have been executed by Hamas recently in what officials are describing as a display of strength following the ceasefire. Many of those executed are said to belong to families accused of collaborating with Israel or backing rival factions.
President Trump has since reiterated that U.S. forces will not enter Gaza.
Amid these tensions, Trump remarked, “That’s not who we are,” in response to the violent situation, highlighting that there is no need for such actions. He added that while some individuals might try to infiltrate, they do so under specific conditions.
