United States President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas on Thursday, stating that the Palestinian group must disarm and stop targeting gangs and alleged Israeli collaborators in Gaza—or face forceful consequences. The announcement marks a notable shift from Trump’s earlier remarks, in which he appeared to condone Hamas’s crackdown on local gangs.
Trump’s Warning to Hamas
In a social media post, Trump wrote, “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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Later clarifying to reporters, Trump specified that U.S. forces would not directly enter Gaza. “It’s not going to be us,” he said. “There are people very close, very nearby that will go in and they’ll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices,” seemingly referring to Israel without naming the country.
This marks a stark contrast to Trump’s earlier statements this week, when he praised Hamas for eliminating violent gangs in Gaza. “They did take out a couple of gangs that were very bad, very, very bad gangs… And they killed a number of gang members. That didn’t bother me much,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Background: Gang Violence in Gaza
Gaza has seen deadly clashes between armed local gangs, some allegedly supported by Israel, and Hamas forces. The gangs have been accused of looting humanitarian aid and collaborating with Israeli operatives.
On Sunday, gunmen from an Israel-linked Gaza gang reportedly assassinated prominent Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi, escalating tensions in the territory. In response, Hamas’s Interior Ministry announced a general amnesty for gang members who did not partake in the violence.
In June, Israeli officials admitted to arming certain Gaza gangs, some with ties to ISIL (ISIS), to destabilize Hamas. These incidents have complicated efforts to enforce the ceasefire brokered by Trump earlier this month.
Trump’s Ceasefire Plan and Hamas Disarmament
Trump’s ceasefire agreement with Hamas requires the group to disarm and step back from governing Gaza. On Thursday, Trump reiterated that if Hamas fails to comply voluntarily, they will be forcibly disarmed—“and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently.”
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned Hamas for executing suspected collaborators, calling the killings a “heinous crime” and a violation of human rights.
While the ceasefire has largely held since Saturday, continued Israeli military actions and delays in opening the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid have raised questions about its sustainability. Israel has cited Hamas’s alleged failure to return all captive bodies as justification for restricting aid and maintaining control over key border crossings.
Implications for Gaza and the Middle East
Trump has hailed the ceasefire as the start of a “new Middle East,” but his latest statements cast doubt on the durability of the truce. The ongoing Israeli occupation, combined with unresolved questions about Hamas governance and disarmament, threatens the fragile stability in Gaza.
The U.S. president’s warnings signal a more aggressive stance toward Hamas, emphasizing enforcement of the ceasefire terms while leaving room for Israel to act under U.S. auspices. Observers say this could escalate tensions if Hamas resists disarmament or if Israeli forces continue military operations in Gaza.
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