In a strong statement today, Donald Trump vowed severe retaliation against Hamas if the group fails to adhere to its peace agreement with Israel. Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed, “Our newly strengthened allies in the Middle East, alongside surrounding regions, have expressed a readiness to intervene in Gaza at my behest to decisively address Hamas’s misconduct.” Trump’s remarks come as Vice President JD lands in Israel for urgent discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid growing tensions that threaten the fragile Gaza peace deal.

The deployment of the Vice President and the second lady follows Netanyahu’s command for military strikes in response to the death of two Israeli soldiers at the hands of Hamas militants. Trump continued to express optimism, stating, “The unity and spirit in the Middle East is unprecedented in a millennium—it’s truly remarkable to witness!” He urged patience, telling involved nations and Israel, “Not yet! There remains hope for Hamas to choose the right path.” However, he warned, “Should they falter, the response will be swift, fierce, and uncompromising.” Trump extended gratitude to nations offering support, notably highlighting Indonesia and its leadership for their significant contributions to both the Middle East and the United States.

Meanwhile, Gaza is engulfed in turmoil as disturbing footage reveals Palestinians facing brutal treatment at the hands of Hamas enforcers. A graphic video has emerged showing masked militants assaulting two men, dragging them through the dirt. The victims, visibly distressed, shield their faces as a group of attackers closes in. One of the men, his head covered with a black sack and his hands tied behind his back, is seen in excruciating pain while his attackers brutally strike his knees with metal bars.

As he squirms on the dusty road after being dumped beside a vehicle, three men donning black masks repeatedly beat him with long, thick sticks. They drag him again and throw him next to another civilian, who is also tied-up, before beating them both and shooting at their knees. At least one of the men appeared to be hit by a bullet, as he screams out in pain, and just a moment later, one of the alleged Hamas enforcers steps on the head of of a captive, crushing his face into the dirt. The first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and Israel is still ongoing despite Hamas not handing over the remaining bodies of the 15 deceased hostages. Hamas has claimed retrieving the bodies is difficult due to the rubble and ruin across the Gaza region.

The next phase of Trump’s peace plan is for the disarmament of Hamas along with the group losing control of governing Gaza. Hamas has not agreed to this part of the peace deal. Militants and Israeli Defense Forces, however, have fired at each other in southern Gaza amid the fragile ceasefire. Israel’s government has accused Hamas’ armed ‘Al Qassam Brigades,’ of repeatedly violating the agreement. After trading strikes earlier this week, Hamas negotiators reiterated that the group is committed to ensuring the war ‘ends once and for all.’ Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is still waiting for Hamas to turn over the remains of 15 deceased hostages. Thirteen bodies have been released since the ceasefire began.

The Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, said that Israel transferred the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza as part of the ceasefire. The International Committee of the Red Cross handed over the bodies to the Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis, it said. The new arrivals brought the number of bodies Israel sent back to Gaza to 165 since the exchanges started earlier this month, according to the health ministry. ‘From the day we signed the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, we were determined and committed to seeing it through to the end,’ Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who is in Cairo, told Egypt’s Al-Qahera News television late Monday.

He said the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Trump, represented ‘an international will declaring the war in Gaza is over.’ Al-Hayya said Hamas received assurances from mediators and Trump that ‘give us confidence that the war has ended for good.’ He said Israel has complied with aid deliveries in the crossings according to the agreement but asked mediators to pressure Israel to deliver more shelter, medical supplies and winterization items before the weather changes. Meanwhile, the head of Egypt’s intelligence agency traveled to Israel on Tuesday to meet with Israeli officials and Witkoff over the implementations of the ceasefire, according to Egyptian media.

On Sunday, Israel’s military said militants had fired at troops, killing two Israeli soldiers in the Rafah area of southern Gaza, under Israeli control as per agreed-on ceasefire lines. Retaliatory strikes by Israel killed 45 Palestinians, according to the Strip’s Health Ministry, which says a total of 80 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect . Similar strikes occurred on Monday in Gaza City and Khan Younis, where Israel said militants had crossed the yellow ceasefire line and posed an ‘immediate threat’ to its troops . The Israeli military said Monday it was using concrete barriers and painted poles to more clearly delineate the so-called yellow line in Gaza where troops have withdrawn to. It said several instances of violence have occurred.

Also on Tuesday, Qatar, a key mediator in the ceasefire, denounced Israel in a speech by its ruling emir. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said his nation would continue to serve as a mediator as a ceasefire holds in the Gaza Strip. Sheikh Tamim specifically called Israel out for its ‘continued breaches of the ceasefire’ in Gaza, as well as its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. A senior health official in the Gaza Strip said the bodies of Palestinians that Israel returned to Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal bore ‘evidence of torture’ and called for an investigation. Israel returned 150 bodies for Palestinians to Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal, which required the release of all of Israeli hostages – living and deceased – in return for the release of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and many bodies of Palestinians .

So far, only 32 of the returned bodies have been identified, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, the general director of the Health Ministry, said in a post of social media late Monday that some of the bodies had returned with evidence of being bound with ropes and metal shackles, blindfolds, deep wounds, abrasions, burns, and crushed limbs. ‘What has happened constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity,’ he said, calling for the United Nations to launch an ‘urgent and independent international investigation.’ The Israel Prisons Service denied that prisoners had been mistreated.