US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas, vowing to “eradicate” the militant group if it violates its ceasefire agreement with Israel, as his administration intensifies efforts to preserve the fragile Gaza truce.
The warning came ahead of Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the Middle East on Tuesday, aimed at reinforcing the peace accord Washington helped broker after renewed violence rattled Gaza over the weekend.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the United States expected Hamas to honor its commitments under the ceasefire.
“We made a deal with them, they agreed to peace and stability,” he said.
“If they break it, we’ll have no choice but to wipe them out completely. They know we mean it.”
Both Israel and Hamas have pledged to maintain the US-backed truce despite recent clashes that left dozens dead.
On Monday, Israel confirmed Hamas had returned the body of another hostage, bringing the total to 13 out of 28 promised under the ceasefire terms.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reiterated that Israel would not tolerate any delays in recovering the remaining hostages’ remains.
“We are committed to bringing every last one home,” the statement read, emphasizing that the ceasefire’s continuation depended on Hamas fulfilling its obligations.
Hamas, however, said it required additional time and technical help to locate and recover all the bodies, blaming logistical challenges inside Gaza.
Vice President Vance, who arrived in Israel on Tuesday, is expected to meet with Netanyahu to discuss ongoing security concerns and potential diplomatic openings in the region.
The Gaza ceasefire, which began on October 10, outlines a framework for hostage and prisoner swaps and proposes a long-term roadmap for rebuilding Gaza.
But its implementation has faced hurdles, including deadly Israeli strikes over the weekend that followed the killing of two Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza.
According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, at least 45 Palestinians were killed in those strikes, while Israel said the attacks targeted Hamas strongholds in retaliation for ceasefire violations.
Trump clarified that US forces would not engage directly in Gaza but warned that Israel could be given the green light to act swiftly if provoked. “Israel would move in within minutes if I asked,” he said. “But for now, we’re giving peace a chance.”
Under the Trump administration’s 20-point ceasefire plan, Israeli troops have pulled back beyond the “Yellow Line,” leaving them in control of roughly half of Gaza’s territory, including its borders, but not its main urban centers.
Israeli forces have since opened fire on individuals approaching their new positions, claiming they were militants attempting to breach restricted zones.
The Israeli military confirmed it had resumed “renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” after responding to Sunday’s attack but vowed to retaliate against any further violations.
A Hamas official dismissed Israel’s claims as fabricated, accusing Tel Aviv of seeking excuses to resume hostilities.
The ongoing conflict, which erupted following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, has claimed over 68,000 lives in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, a figure the United Nations considers credible. Most of the casualties are said to be women and children.
Israel’s own losses from the initial Hamas attack stand at 1,221 people, mostly civilians.