On Saturday, the U.S. Department of State issued a warning about “credible reports” indicating that Hamas might violate the current peace agreement with an intended assault on Palestinian civilians.
In a statement released on social media, the department emphasized, “This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would represent a severe breach of the ceasefire agreement and jeopardize the substantial progress made through diplomatic efforts. The guarantors demand that Hamas adhere to its commitments under the ceasefire terms.”
The statement further affirmed, “The United States, along with other guarantors, remains steadfast in our dedication to safeguarding civilians, sustaining calm on the ground, and promoting peace and prosperity for the people of Gaza and the broader region.”
This warning comes in the wake of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect last weekend, following two years of conflict in the area initiated by the attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
In a related development, members of Hamas were observed on Saturday searching for the bodies of hostages in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Earlier this week, under the terms of the agreement, the 20 remaining Israeli hostages were safely returned to Israel on Monday. However, the remains of more than a dozen hostages who were killed remain under Hamas’s control.
The State Department added that “measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire” if Hamas proceeds with the attack.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued a warning on Truth Social after footage circulated online showing Hamas fighters executing Palestinians in Gaza City’s main square.
“If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” he wrote.
According to Reuters, at least 33 people were executed by Hamas in recent days in what officials described as a campaign to “show strength” after the ceasefire. Israeli sources say most of those killed belonged to families accused of collaborating with Israel or supporting rival militias.
Trump later clarified that U.S. troops would not go into Gaza.
In this still from a verified social media video confirmed to Reuters by a Hamas source, seven men are forced to their knees and shot from behind by Hamas gunmen during public executions in Gaza on Oct. 14. (Reuters)
“It’s not going to be us,” he told reporters. “We won’t have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go in and they’ll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices.”
