Donald Trump has issued a warning of potential military action in Gaza against Hamas following a recent ceasefire. Trump accused Hamas of causing casualties in Gaza but did not elaborate on specific incidents. On social media platform Truth Social, he stated, “If Hamas persists in causing casualties in Gaza, contrary to the agreement, we may be compelled to intervene and eliminate the threat. Thank you for your attention to this issue.”
Trump’s remarks came after he downplayed internal conflicts in Gaza, mentioning that Hamas had dealt with “problematic groups.” However, he emphasized his impatience with Hamas’ violence towards competing factions, stating, “They must disarm, or we will disarm them swiftly and forcefully.”
In a separate development, around 200 US troops are being deployed to Israel to support and oversee the ceasefire implementation after a two-year conflict. Reports have emerged of clashes between Hamas and Palestinian groups, some allegedly supported by Israel. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms.
Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official accused Israel of killing 24 individuals in Gaza, claiming Israel was undermining the ceasefire through its actions. The official mentioned that Hamas had exerted control over public security in Gaza for nearly two decades but had recently lost ground to local families and armed groups, some allegedly linked to Israel.
Recent incidents include the reported killing of five Palestinians by Israel for crossing the ceasefire border. Allegations of mistreatment and possible executions of Palestinian detainees by Israel have raised concerns, with calls for accountability under international law.
In response, the Israeli military disputed claims regarding the return of hostages’ bodies, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the need for Hamas to comply with the ceasefire terms regarding the hostages. Hamas’ armed wing stated that it had fulfilled its obligations by returning the remains of hostages in its possession.
In other news, Trump disclosed details of a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, announcing plans for an upcoming meeting in Budapest, Hungary, to address the conflict in Ukraine. The meeting aims to build on progress made during their previous talks in Alaska.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed readiness for the upcoming summit, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to lead US officials in discussions with Russian counterparts. The location for this meeting is yet to be confirmed.