‘No choice but to go and kill them’: Trump’s hardline warning to Hamas in Gaza

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that continued killings in Gaza would leave the United States “with no choice but to go in and kill them.” The remarks, posted on social media, underline Washington’s zero-tolerance stance towards attacks on civilians amid the ongoing conflict.

Israel also threatened to restart military operations if Hamas fails to comply with the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire. Defence Minister Israel Katz said that non-compliance would prompt coordinated action to defeat Hamas and achieve the objectives of the war.

The truce, negotiated by Trump, has seen Hamas release 20 surviving hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas’s armed wing stated that two recently returned bodies would be the last for now, citing difficulties in retrieving others from rubble.

Senior US advisors noted that Hamas still intends to honour the agreement. Delays in returning bodies, however, could increase domestic pressure on Israeli leaders.

Humanitarian concerns remain acute. Israel has transferred 45 more Palestinian bodies to Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, bringing the total to 90. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher urged Israel to open all border crossings immediately to allow aid to reach civilians.

Reports indicate Israeli forces killed three Palestinians on Wednesday, claiming the individuals crossed a restricted line, which they said violated the ceasefire.

The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel, has left Gaza in ruins, heavily reliant on limited humanitarian aid. Restoration of aid remains a key provision of Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan.