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President Donald Trump issued his strongest warning yet to Hamas on Thursday, saying the United States would take military action if the group continues killing people in Gaza despite a tentative ceasefire.
“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 on Truth Social. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Reports and videos in recent days have shown Hamas fighters executing suspected members of local gangs, allegedly in retaliation against those accused of aiding Israel during the war that began Oct. 7, 2023.
President Trump’s warning followed comments earlier in the week in which he said Hamas must surrender its weapons or face consequences.
“If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them. And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently,” President Trump said Tuesday during a White House meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei.
On Monday, Hamas released the last known living Israeli hostages from Gaza, while Israel freed busloads of Palestinian detainees under a ceasefire deal brokered by the Trump administration. Hamas has not yet publicly committed to disarming.
Trump said he delivered his peace terms directly through intermediaries and that Hamas had agreed to disarm as outlined in his 20-point plan.
“I spoke to Hamas, and I said, you’re going to disarm, right? Yes, sir, we’re going to disarm. That’s what they told me,” President Trump said, later clarifying the message was conveyed indirectly.
Israeli officials confirmed the safe return of 20 hostages on Monday, the last known survivors from the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war. In accordance with the agreement, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in a major exchange viewed as a key milestone of the Trump-brokered deal unveiled last week.
Trump landed in Israel on Monday to a formal welcome from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before heading directly to the Knesset, where he addressed lawmakers and met with families of the hostages.
“Mr. President, I would like to thank you that you granted the Knesset the honor that it is the first parliament you are visiting in your present term,” Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said as he greeted President Trump.