Trump Threatens to Destroy Hamas if It Violates Gaza Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will give Hamas a “small chance” to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip with Israel, but warned that if the movement fails to comply it will be “eliminated.”

Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House while receiving Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, said the United States had reached an “agreement” with Hamas that guarantees good behavior on its part, but added: “If they do not, we will take them out. And if we have to, they will be taken out.”

Trump’s remarks came alongside meetings held by two senior presidential envoys with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a time when violent incidents on Sunday threatened to weaken the ceasefire that was brokered by the United States about two weeks ago.

The U.S. president affirmed that American forces would not take part directly in any fighting against Hamas, noting that dozens of countries that agreed to join an international stabilization force in Gaza “would welcome intervention.” He added that Israel “would be ready to enter within two minutes, if asked to do so.”

“We will give them a small chance and hope there will be less violence in the meantime — they are violent people,” Trump continued. He also said that Hamas has become “much weaker,” particularly in light of the diminished role of Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes in several areas this year.