U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strong statement against Hamas on October 16. He stated that if Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip continue acts of violence against civilians, the United States or its allies will not remain uninvolved. Trump made the statement on his Truth Social account.
“If they keep killing people, we’ll have only one option — go in and eliminate them,” said the American president. He did not specify which forces might take part in such an operation.
Earlier, Trump had described some of Hamas’s actions as “measures against very bad gangs” and said that “everything is fine.” However, after a video showing executions in southern Gaza emerged, the situation escalated sharply.
Reports indicate that the footage shows around eight people being executed. According to DPA, Hamas accused these individuals of collaborating with the Israeli army. The German Foreign Ministry called the incident “horrifying,” while the Palestinian Authority strongly condemned the alleged killings.
Israel, in turn, demanded that Hamas hand over the bodies of all hostages. If this is not done, Israel has threatened to resume military operations in Gaza. Officially, Hamas is required to deliver 28 bodies; so far, 10 have been received, one of which was later identified as a local Gazan citizen.
Trump added that he plans to discuss the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an interview with CNN, he said: “If Hamas breaks the agreement, Israeli forces should return to the streets immediately — it will happen the moment I say so.”
The president also reiterated that if Hamas fails to disarm as required by the agreement, a military strike remains a strong possibility.
Analysts believe Trump’s statement could further escalate tensions around Gaza. However, sources in Washington note that the White House is not currently discussing direct military intervention — the main goal remains achieving compliance through diplomatic pressure.
Still, Trump’s latest remarks indicate that the U.S. stance on the Gaza conflict has become notably tougher.
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