Trump Threatens Action Against Hamas Over Gaza Violence, Puts Ceasefire at Risk:

Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas, threatening potential retaliatory action if the group continues its crackdown on gangs and alleged collaborators in Gaza—moves he now says may violate a fragile ceasefire agreement. In a post on social media Thursday, Trump made his strongest comments yet about the situation in the Gaza Strip, where recent internal clashes have raised alarm. “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,” Trump wrote. He added, “Thank you for your attention to this matter!” However, speaking to reporters later in the day, Trump clarified that U.S. troops would not be sent into Gaza. “It’s not going to be us,” he said. “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.” Although he didn’t name the country, his comments appeared to point toward Israel. Trump’s threat marks a sharp shift from his earlier stance this week, when he appeared to support Hamas's targeting of criminal gangs inside Gaza. On Tuesday, he told reporters, “They did take out a couple of gangs that were very bad, very, very bad gangs. And they did take them out, and they killed a number of gang members. And that didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you. That’s OK.” Tensions in Gaza escalated over the weekend after violent clashes erupted between Hamas and armed clans accused of looting humanitarian aid and cooperating with Israeli intelligence. According to local forces, some of these gangs have ties to ISIL (ISIS), and were allegedly armed by Israel in a covert effort to undermine Hamas’s control. One of the most shocking incidents came on Sunday, when gunmen from a gang reportedly linked to Israel shot and killed prominent Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi. The attack drew condemnation across Gaza and from human rights groups. In response to the violence, Hamas’s Interior Ministry issued a general amnesty to gang members who didn’t take part in the bloodshed, in what seemed like an attempt to de-escalate tensions. But the situation remains highly volatile. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also weighed in, condemning Hamas over reports that it executed suspected Israeli collaborators. “What happened represents a crime, a flagrant violation of human rights, and a serious assault on the principle of the rule of law,” his office said in a statement. Trump’s threats to Hamas extend beyond the gang violence. Under the ceasefire terms backed by the U.S., Hamas is expected to disarm and relinquish political control in Gaza—a demand the group has not publicly accepted. On Thursday, Trump reiterated that the disarmament is non-negotiable. “They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently,” he told reporters. The ceasefire, which took effect last Saturday, has largely held despite several incidents. Israel has been accused of breaching the truce by shooting Palestinians near military-controlled zones in Gaza—areas that are not clearly marked. Israel justifies the actions as self-defense. Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns are growing. Israel has delayed reopening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and has threatened to restrict aid into Gaza, citing Hamas’s failure to return the remains of captives. Despite these challenges, Trump has praised the truce as the beginning of a “new Middle East.” But with increasing internal unrest in Gaza, unclear plans for its governance, and ongoing Israeli military presence, the durability of the ceasefire is uncertain.

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