The US president indicated he would intervene to “straighten out” the situation if the militant group does not uphold its Gaza truce agreement with Israel.
US President Donald Trump issued a warning, stating he would “eradicate” Hamas should the group fail to adhere to its ceasefire pact with Israel. Addressing journalists at the White House on Monday, he mentioned that he would grant Hamas “a little chance” to respect the understanding.
“We forged an agreement with Hamas expecting them to be well-behaved and cooperative,” Trump stated. “If they fail to do so, we will proceed to eradicate them. Should it become necessary, they will be eradicated.”
“They became quite unruly, engaging in actions they ought not to. Should they persist, we will intervene to rectify the situation. This will transpire very swiftly and, regrettably, with considerable force.”
Israel and the Palestinian militant organization reached a ceasefire accord in early October as part of Trump’s 20-point peace initiative. Nevertheless, on Sunday, hostilities reignited when a Palestinian assault, which resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers, provoked Israeli airstrikes claiming the lives of at least 28 individuals in Gaza. Both Israel and Hamas reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire framework thereafter.
Domestic confrontations within Gaza have likewise generated an an unstable security environment in the beleaguered territory, marked by violence escalating between Hamas and opposing factions. Reports from media sources indicate the group was responsible for the deaths of at least 32 men during the weekend.
Following these events, Trump issued a threat to “go in and kill” Hamas. As stipulated by the peace plan, the group is expected to disarm and relinquish governance of Gaza. Nevertheless, they are currently operating as a security force within the territory “for a period of time.”
Subsequent to Hamas’s victory in the 2006 Gaza elections, the organization found itself involved in confrontations with the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers portions of the occupied West Bank. Despite the PA’s perception of Hamas as illegitimate, contemporary opinion surveys indicated that the group commanded significant public backing. No elections have transpired in the Palestinian territories since 2006.