By Abiola Olawale
United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the Palestinian militant group Hamas to adhere strictly to the truce or face catastrophic consequences.
Amid reports of renewed violence and accusations of ceasefire breaches from both sides, the President stated unequivocally that any failure by Hamas to “behave” would lead to their “eradication.”
The ultimatum was delivered from the White House, coming days after a fresh spike in hostilities threatened to derail the delicate agreement that halted a two-year conflict.
Israel and Hamas have both traded accusations of violations since the ceasefire took effect on October 10.
Speaking to reporters, President Trump emphasized that the deal secured an unprecedented period of calm, but he put the onus squarely on Hamas to maintain it.
“We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“If they’re not, we’re going to go and we’re going to eradicate them, if we have to. They’ll be eradicated, and they know that.”
The New Diplomat reports that the ceasefire, which went into effect on October 10, established an outline for hostage and prisoner exchanges and proposed an ambitious roadmap for Gaza’s future. But its implementation has quickly faced challenges.
Israel carried out dozens of strikes in Gaza on Sunday using 153 tons (337,307 pounds) of explosives, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, targeting Hamas after two Israeli soldiers were killed in the territory’s south. Gaza’s civil defence agency said the strikes killed at least 45 people across the territory.
The Israeli prime minister accused the militant group of “a blatant violation” of the ceasefire, an accusation it denied.
The Gaza civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority, said four people were also killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday in Gaza City. Israel’s military said it had fired at militants who crossed a ceasefire line.
