WASHINGTON, USA – President Donald Trump on Thursday, October 16, 2025 issued a stark warning to Hamas, threatening renewed military action if the group continues what he described as violations of the recently brokered Gaza ceasefire.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”
The statement comes amid mounting tensions surrounding the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, which halted months of deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The deal required Hamas to release all hostages, disarm, and cede control of Gaza to an internationally supervised governing body.
Accusations of Breach
Israeli officials have accused Hamas of failing to meet its commitments, alleging that not all hostages — including the remains of deceased captives — were returned within the agreed timeframe.
Trump had already warned on Wednesday that he would authorise Israeli forces to re-enter Gaza if Hamas did not comply with the full terms of the agreement.
Hamas, meanwhile, has said it is willing to hand over control of Gaza to other Palestinian groups but insists that “further negotiations” are necessary to implement the deal.
Renewed Violence in Gaza
The latest warning follows reports of fresh clashes in Gaza, where Hamas has been confronting armed criminal groups in areas vacated by Israeli troops.
Trump acknowledged the internal fighting earlier this week, saying the militant group had taken out “a couple of gangs,” which, he added, “didn’t bother me much, to be honest.”
While some residents have reportedly welcomed Hamas’ efforts to curb lawlessness, observers warn that the renewed violence could undermine the fragile truce.
International Reactions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would not consider the conflict over until Hamas is dismantled, a demand that goes beyond Trump’s ceasefire requirement for the group to merely disarm and cede control.
The White House did not immediately respond to Newsweek’s request for clarification on Trump’s remarks.
Political figures across the spectrum reacted sharply online. Far-right commentator Nick Fuentes wrote on X:
“So now Trump is threatening to destroy Hamas with the US military, which he recently deployed to Israel. Just when you thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, the ‘peace deal’ might draw us even further into the war.”
Progressive commentator Hasan Piker voiced concerns that Trump might use claims of noncompliance as justification for renewed hostilities.
“I worry that Trump will pull another Biden & falsely claim Hamas is not abiding by the conditions and let Israel violate peace again,” he wrote.
A Fragile Peace Under Strain
The ceasefire, announced earlier this month, ended one of the most devastating periods of violence in Gaza’s history.
The Gaza Health Ministry estimates more than 67,000 people were killed during Israel’s offensive, while around 1,200 Israelis were killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the conflict.
Trump has positioned himself as the architect of the peace deal, framing it as a defining moment of his presidency. But with renewed unrest and accusations of broken promises, the agreement — and the region’s stability — remain uncertain.
As Trump warned in his post, “the Deal” may not hold much longer.
