Washington: US President Donald Trump has sent out a spine-chilling warning to Hamas — be ready to be ‘eradicated’ if you continue to violate the Gaza truce agreement brokered by the US.
Trump claimed that several of America’s “now great allies” in the Middle East and surrounding regions have told him they would be willing, at his request, to enter Gaza with “a heavy force” and “straighten our Hamas” if the Palestine militant group continues to act in violation of its agreement with the US.
“Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and ‘straighten our Hamas’ if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us. The love and spirit for the Middle East has not been seen like this in a thousand years! It is a beautiful thing to behold!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
Trump went on to add that he has told these countries, and Israel, “NOT YET!” He stated there was still hope that Hamas would “do what is right,” but warned that if the group fails to comply, “an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!”
As Vice-President J D Vance landed in Israel earlier in the day, Trump threatened to “eradicate” Hamas if it breached the ceasefire deal with Israel.
Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by allegedly shooting collaborators and carrying out executions in the open.
In retaliation, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dropped 153 tonnes of bombs on different targets in southern Gaza. Israel also claimed to have launched airstrikes after two of its soldiers were killed in an attack by Hamas.
Despite the weekend’s violence, Israel and Hamas have both said they are committed to the truce deal. Even as Israel confirmed that Hamas handed over the body of a hostage on Monday, taking the total to 13 of the 28 it had pledged to return, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that Hamas had to make good on its commitment to return the remains of all the hostages.
Hamas has said it needs more time and technical assistance to complete the recovery of the bodies.