“If Hamas continues killing people in Gaza — something that’s not part of the agreement — we’ll have no choice but to go in and eliminate them,” President Trump wrote on social media on October 16.
Speaking to reporters at the White House afterward, he added that any intervention in Gaza “would not be carried out by U.S. troops, but would take place under American supervision.”
Trump’s warning comes as Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement. The Israeli government said it was preparing to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow Palestinians to move in and out of Gaza, though no specific date has been set. Tel Aviv has also demanded that Hamas hand over the bodies of 19 hostages still unreturned. Hamas, however, said many of the bodies were buried under tunnels destroyed by Israeli attacks or trapped beneath rubble, requiring time to recover them.
Hamas has accused Israel of killing at least 24 people since October 11 and has submitted a list of alleged violations to mediators. The Israeli military denied the accusations, saying some civilians ignored warnings and “were shot while approaching ceasefire zones.” Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media in recent days appear to show Hamas executing suspected “collaborators” with Israel in the streets of Gaza.
According to the 20-point peace plan initiated by President Trump to end the conflict, Hamas must disarm and relinquish control of Gaza. However, the group has deployed thousands of security personnel to replace the recently withdrawn Israeli forces, openly asserting its authority and signaling that it still holds power in the enclave.
Hamas has also launched a crackdown on rival Palestinian militias controlled by powerful local clans, conducting public executions that have spread fear throughout the territory. The escalating internal violence has raised concerns that Gaza’s war-weary population may face yet another wave of suffering.
Clashes around a hospital in Gaza City on October 12 reportedly left dozens dead, according to both Hamas units involved in the raid and members of the rival clan they fought.
The ongoing bloodshed underscores the challenges ahead, as negotiations surrounding President Trump’s peace plan move toward the more complex tasks of disarming Hamas and establishing a new administrative and security framework for Gaza. Analysts warn that Hamas’s assertive show of power could directly conflict with the requirements outlined in Trump’s proposed peace roadmap.