U.S. Warns of Potential Hamas Attack on Palestinian Civilians in Gaza

The U.S. State Department announced Saturday that it has informed the guarantor nations of the Gaza peace agreement about credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas targeting Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. The Department emphasized that such an attack would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts. It added that measures would be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire, though specific details of these measures were not disclosed.

This development follows the release of a video obtained by CBS News, showing armed Hamas fighters executing Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel. Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin commented on the video, stating that it depicts a long pattern of punishment that Hamas uses against suspected collaborators with Israel. He further described Hamas as a criminal organization that has ruled the Palestinian people in Gaza for almost 20 years, characterizing it as not a democratic, liberal regime.

President Trump addressed the situation on Tuesday, acknowledging that Hamas was engaged in violence against Palestinian militia groups. He remarked that Hamas had taken out a couple of gangs that were very bad gangs, very, very bad, and that didn't bother him much, to be honest.

The ceasefire agreement, brokered by the U.S. and signed on Monday, aims to halt the two-year Israel-Hamas war. As part of the deal, Hamas released 20 living hostages, while Israel released about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israel also pulled its troops back to a preapproved line in Gaza. The agreement calls for Hamas to relinquish its governance of the Palestinian territory to a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza.

Despite these efforts, Hamas' role in Gaza's future remains uncertain. Israel has demanded that Hamas disarm, and the ceasefire deal stipulates that Hamas should release the remains of 28 deceased hostages. To date, Hamas has released the remains of 10 individuals, with an additional two bodies released on Saturday pending identification. According to the Associated Press, Israel has so far returned to Gaza the bodies of 135 Palestinians as part of the agreement.