U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas, vowing to “eradicate” the militant group if it violates its ceasefire agreement with Israel. The warning came as Vice President JD Vance travelled to the Middle East on Tuesday in a bid to reinforce the fragile Gaza truce.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said, “We made a deal with Hamas — they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice. If they’re not, we’re going to eradicate them. They know that.”
The Trump administration has intensified efforts to sustain the peace deal it helped broker, following a surge of deadly violence in Gaza over the weekend and accusations from Israel that Hamas was delaying the handover of hostages’ bodies.
Despite the tensions, both sides have publicly recommitted to the U.S.-backed ceasefire. Israel confirmed on Monday that Hamas had handed over the body of another hostage — the 13th of 28 it pledged to return. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stressed that Hamas must fulfill all its obligations before the truce can fully take effect.
“We will not compromise,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “Every last one of our fallen citizens must be returned.”
Hamas, however, claimed it required more time and technical support to complete the recovery process.
Vice President Vance, who is expected to meet with Israeli officials during his visit, will discuss “security challenges and diplomatic opportunities,” according to Netanyahu.
The ceasefire, in effect since October 10, includes a framework for hostage-prisoner swaps and a roadmap for Gaza’s reconstruction. Yet, its implementation has been rocky.
Israel launched multiple airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday, deploying more than 150 tons of explosives in retaliation for the killing of two Israeli soldiers in the south. Gaza’s civil defence agency said at least 45 people were killed in the attacks. Israel described the operation as a response to “a blatant violation” of the truce by Hamas — a claim the group denied.
Trump clarified that U.S. troops would not take part in any military action, though he hinted that Israel could re-engage swiftly if needed. “Israel would go in in two minutes if I asked them to,” he said. “But right now, we’re giving it a little chance.”
Under Trump’s 20-point Gaza framework, Israeli forces have repositioned beyond the so-called “Yellow Line,” leaving them in control of roughly half the enclave, including border areas but not major cities.
Israel’s military said it has resumed “renewed enforcement of the ceasefire” while vowing to “respond firmly to any violation.”
The ongoing war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has killed more than 68,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities — figures deemed credible by the United Nations. Over half of the victims are women and children.
Hamas’s initial assault on Israel left 1,221 people dead, mostly civilians, marking one of the bloodiest days in the nation’s history.
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