WASHINGTON, Oct 17: President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that Hamas would be “killed” if the factional violence in Gaza continued. However, he later clarified that U.S. troops would not be deployed to the region, according to the Associated Press.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said other forces “very close” to Gaza would handle the situation “under our auspices,” without naming any specific country. His remarks came after a weeklong ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas appeared to unravel due to renewed infighting, the AP reported.
Trump to push Netanyahu on Gaza peace plan at White House
Trump’s tone marked a sharp shift from earlier in the week when he appeared unconcerned about the internal killings in Gaza. On Tuesday, he said Hamas had eliminated “a couple of gangs that were very bad” and that such actions “didn’t bother” him. But by Thursday, he warned Hamas to disarm or face force, adding that disarmament would happen “quickly and perhaps violently,” the AP said.
The White House declined to comment on Trump’s remarks or clarify how his threat might be enforced. Analysts said it remained unclear whether Trump’s reference to “nearby” forces meant Israel, whose potential reentry into Gaza could violate the terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, according to the AP.
The ceasefire deal, introduced by Trump, required Hamas to release all hostages or provide information about the deceased by Monday’s deadline. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Hamas must fully comply before any new negotiations could occur. Hamas claimed Wednesday that it had already handed over all the bodies it could access, the AP reported.
Since Hamas’ control over Gaza weakened amid Israeli airstrikes, local gangs and armed families, including groups with Israeli backing, have filled the security vacuum. Many have been accused of stealing humanitarian supplies and worsening the territory’s hunger crisis, the AP noted.
The U.S. recently sent about 200 troops to Israel to help oversee the ceasefire implementation alongside international partners, though officials emphasized that no American soldiers would enter Gaza. Senior U.S. advisers told reporters that Hamas had promised through intermediaries to continue returning remains and that Washington did not believe the group had breached the deal, according to the AP.
