Trump warns Hamas will be eradicated if Gaza ceasefire fails, says group must honor truce deal

WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump said Monday that he would give Hamas a chance to honor the Gaza truce deal with Israel but warned the group would be “eradicated” if it fails to do so.

“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 as he hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “And 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.”

Trump’s comments came as two of his top envoys met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after weekend violence threatened to wreck the fragile ceasefire the U.S. president brokered nearly two weeks ago.

Trump insisted that American forces would not be involved against Hamas, saying dozens of countries that have agreed to join an international stabilization force for Gaza would “love to go in.”

“In addition, you have Israel would go in in two minutes, if I asked them to go in,” Trump said. “But right now, we haven’t said that. We’re going to give it a little chance, and hopefully there will be a little less violence. But right now, you know, they’re violent people.”

Trump said Hamas was now far weaker, especially given that regional backer Iran was now unlikely to step in on its behalf following U.S. and Israeli strikes earlier this year.

The president’s warning came amid growing concerns about the stability of the ceasefire agreement, which has faced challenges including disputes over hostage releases and the return of remains. Weekend violence in Gaza raised questions about whether both sides would continue to honor the terms of the truce.

The United States deployed approximately two hundred troops to Israel to help establish a civil-military coordination center for facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza and monitoring the ceasefire. U.S. officials have emphasized that no American troops will be deployed inside Gaza.

Trump has portrayed the Gaza ceasefire as a major diplomatic achievement and the first step toward broader reconciliation in the Middle East. His special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been involved in negotiations and implementation efforts.

The ceasefire agreement’s first phase called for the release of all living hostages held by Hamas, exchange of Palestinian prisoners and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. All twenty living hostages were released earlier this month, though complications have arisen regarding the return of remains of deceased hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not compromise on demands that Hamas fulfill ceasefire requirements, particularly regarding the return of hostages’ bodies. Three former senior managers at hospitals where hostage remains were handled are being investigated following confusion over body identifications.

Trump’s threat to “eradicate” Hamas if the group violates the ceasefire echoes similar warnings he has made regarding other adversaries. The president has previously authorized CIA covert operations inside Venezuela and threatened massive tariffs against China over trade disputes.

The international stabilization force for Gaza that Trump referenced would include participation from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and other nations. Western and Arab countries met in Paris to discuss peacekeeping arrangements and reconstruction assistance for Gaza once fighting stops.

Hamas has been militarily decimated by Israel’s assault on Gaza but remains organizationally intact and could potentially rebuild if there is an extended period of calm. The group has indicated it handed over all hostage remains it had access to, though Israeli officials dispute this claim.

More than sixty-seven thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led militants stormed through Israeli towns and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing twelve hundred people and capturing two hundred fifty-one hostages.

The ceasefire represents the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the war began, though substantial challenges remain regarding Gaza’s postwar governance, the territory’s reconstruction and Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm completely.

Trump’s approach to the Middle East has included aggressive rhetoric combined with diplomatic initiatives. He has emphasized his administration’s support for Israel while also pressuring both sides to reach agreements.