Trump Threatens Hamas: “Eradicate Them” if Ceasefire Collapses
Trump threatens to crush Hamas as Gaza ceasefire hangs in balance.
President Donald Trump issued a chilling warning on Monday, vowing to "eradicate" Hamas if the militant group derails the fragile Gaza ceasefire, as US mediators scrambled to Israel to salvage a truce shaken by deadly weekend clashes. Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, Trump called the US-brokered deal the "best chance yet" to end the two-year war that has killed over 68,000 Palestinians and 450 Israeli soldiers since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which claimed 1,200 lives.
“They’re going to be nice, or we’re going to eradicate them—they know that,” Trump declared, clarifying no US troops would deploy to Gaza but Israel could "take care of it" if needed. The ceasefire, secured earlier this month, briefly raised hopes with the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas has returned only 12 deceased captives’ remains, citing rubble as a barrier, while Israel accuses them of stalling. Weekend violence flared when Hamas ambushed Israeli troops in Rafah, killing two soldiers—Major Yaniv Kula and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz—prompting Israeli airstrikes that Gaza officials say killed 44 civilians.
White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Tel Aviv Monday, with Vice President JD Vance due Tuesday, to reinforce the truce amid mutual accusations of violations. Israeli forces redeployed to a “yellow line,” controlling half of Gaza, while aid flows resumed but stalled at the Rafah crossing. Hamas insists it lost contact with Rafah fighters and remains committed to peace, but Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “firm responses” to any breaches.
Also Read: Tense White House Moment: Trump Rebukes Australia’s Ambassador Kevin Rudd
Trump’s plan demands Hamas disarm and cede governance to a foreign-supervised Palestinian authority, a condition yet to be accepted. A US-led multinational task force, including German soldiers, is forming to stabilize Gaza, with Trump’s team estimating a $50 billion reconstruction effort. Despite UN famine warnings and rising tensions, mediators like Witkoff remain cautiously optimistic, calling the deal a path to “indefinite peace.” As Gaza teeters between hope and havoc, Trump’s threat looms large—will it force compliance or reignite the conflict?
Also Read: Khamenei Rejects Trump’s Nuclear Site Remarks as “Bullying”
