US President Donald Trump on Monday warned Hamas that it would be wiped out if it violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel. However, he also said he would give the Palestinian group a chance to abide by the ceasefire.
Soon after Trump’s remarks, Vice President JD Vance left for Israel along with two senior American envoys. The move followed weekend violence that put the already fragile ceasefire at risk of breaking down.
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Hosting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump told reporters at the White House, ‘We made an agreement with Hamas that they will be very good, they will behave well.’ He said clearly, ‘And if they do not do so, we will go and wipe them out if necessary. They will be wiped out, and they know it very well.’
Trump helped broker the Gaza deal about two weeks ago. But the deal has repeatedly come under threat, as Israel accuses Hamas of delays in handing over dead hostages and carrying out attacks.
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Hamas statement
Hamas’ top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, told Egypt’s Al-Qahera news channel that his group was still committed to the ceasefire agreement.
“We are finding it very difficult to retrieve the bodies, but we are serious and working hard to retrieve them,” he said in remarks broadcast Tuesday morning. He stressed, ‘The Gaza agreement will remain in place, because we want it to and our will to abide by it is strong.’
Trump has also warned Hamas to ensure it stops public executions of rivals and alleged allies, especially as it seeks to regain its grip on the devastated region.
Trump said, American army will not be involved
However, Trump clarified that the US military will not participate in this fight against Hamas. He said the dozens of countries that have agreed to join an international peacekeeping force for Gaza would ‘love to be involved’.
Trump said, ‘Besides, if I tell Israel to go in, it will go in in two minutes.’ He further said, ‘But right now, we have not said so. We will give it (Hamas) a little chance, and hopefully the violence will reduce a little. But right now, you know, they’re violent people.’
Trump finally said that now Hamas has become very weak, especially because after the attacks by America and Israel this year, the possibility of regional ally Iran also supporting it is less. “He doesn’t really have anybody’s support anymore,” Trump insisted. They have to be good, and if they’re not good, they’ll be wiped out.’
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser (and son-in-law) Jared Kushner met with Netanyahu on Monday to discuss “developments in the region and new updates,” a Prime Minister’s Office spokesman said. Vice President Vance and his wife Usha later left Washington for Israel without saying anything to reporters. The Prime Minister’s Office said that he was also going to meet Netanyahu.