The U.S. State Department announced on Saturday that it received "reliable reports" indicating that Hamas may be planning an attack targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip, which is considered — according to the statement — a direct and serious violation of the ceasefire agreement and a setback to the progress made by international mediation efforts.
In the text of the statement, which the Jerusalem newspaper received a copy of, the State Department said that the United States informed the guarantor countries of the ceasefire agreement about these reports, urging Hamas to "fulfill its commitments under the terms of the ceasefire." The statement added that the guarantor parties are prepared to take necessary measures "to protect the residents of Gaza and maintain the integrity of the ceasefire" if the intention to carry out the attack is confirmed.
The statement added, "The United States has informed the guarantor countries of the peace agreement in Gaza of reliable reports indicating an imminent violation of the ceasefire by Hamas against the residents of Gaza."
The department emphasized that "the United States and other guarantor countries are firmly committed to ensuring the safety of civilians, maintaining calm on the ground, and promoting peace and prosperity for the residents of Gaza and the region as a whole," but did not disclose additional details regarding the nature of the alleged attack or the expected timing for its execution.
In a related context, the White House circulated a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously written on social media platforms that "if Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not included in the agreement, we will have no choice but to intervene and kill them." After that, the president confirmed to the media that he "will not send American troops to Gaza," stating that there are parties "very close" who can intervene "and carry out this mission very easily, but under our auspices."
He added, "We will not be the ones to intervene. We will not have to do that. There are people very close, very close, who will come in and carry out this mission very easily, but under our auspices."
Trump's aggressive rhetoric marks a notable shift from previous positions that expressed a kind of disdain for the assassinations carried out by Hamas, when he previously described what happened as "two gangs that were very bad" that had been eliminated — a phrase that sparked criticism and analysis regarding a shift in the U.S. administration's tone towards Hamas and the Palestinian issue in general.
Washington's recent statements come at a time when conditions on the ground remain fragile, amid fears of the collapse of any fragile truce if it turns out that armed factions violated the ceasefire terms. Concerned capitals will closely monitor the situation in the coming hours and days, hoping to clarify whether the reported information is accurate and whether practical steps to protect civilians and maintain the truce will be followed by additional diplomatic or security measures.
שתף את דעתך
Washington warns that "reliable reports" indicate Hamas's intention to target civilians in Gaza.