U.S. President Donald Trump issued a chilling ultimatum to Hamas on Thursday, warning that “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them” if internal bloodshed in Gaza continues. The warning marked a sharp shift in Trump’s tone just days after he appeared to downplay violence among rival groups in the territory following a recent ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking to reporters, Trump clarified that he has no intention of deploying American troops into Gaza but suggested that “people very close, very nearby” would act under U.S. direction. He did not specify whether he was referring to Israeli forces, which could risk breaching the ceasefire terms if they intervened.
Earlier this week, Trump had taken a more dismissive stance, saying Hamas had eliminated “a couple of gangs that were very bad,” adding that the killings “didn’t bother me much.” But by Thursday, he emphasized that Hamas must disarm immediately or face consequences. “They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently,” he warned.
The volatile situation in Gaza has worsened since Hamas-run security forces largely melted away under months of Israeli military operations, leaving power vacuums filled by armed gangs and powerful local families. Many of these groups, including some backed by Israel, have been accused of seizing humanitarian aid and selling it on the black market, deepening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Under Trump’s ceasefire plan, Hamas was required to return all hostages by a Monday deadline or at least provide information about the deceased. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Hamas must fully comply with the deal, particularly on the return of hostages’ bodies. Hamas claims it has already handed over the remains it could access.
The United States has deployed around 200 troops to Israel to help monitor the ceasefire as part of an international team, though U.S. forces will not enter Gaza. American officials have indicated that, so far, they do not believe Hamas has breached the ceasefire agreement. Tensions, however, remain high as Israel grows impatient with the slow return of the bodies of hostages held by Hamas.