US President Donald Trump has issued a grave warning to Hamas, declaring that the United States “will have no choice but to go in and kill them” if internal violence in Gaza continues, just one week after a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and the militant group went into effect.
Trump’s remarks, posted on his Truth Social platform and later reiterated during a media briefing, come amid reports of escalating infighting within Gaza. According to intelligence assessments, Hamas has engaged in violent clashes with rival armed factions, many of which have filled the power vacuum left by Israel’s months-long military campaign and the collapse of the group’s security apparatus.
Speaking on Tuesday, Trump acknowledged that Hamas had “taken out a couple of gangs that were very bad” but added that ongoing killings among Palestinian factions would not be tolerated. “They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them — and it will happen quickly and perhaps violently,” he warned.
The White House declined to clarify whether Trump’s remarks implied direct US military intervention in Gaza. However, sources within the National Security Council confirmed that Washington has dispatched a 200-strong team to Israel to help monitor the fragile ceasefire, emphasizing that no US troops will enter Gaza under current conditions.
The President’s statement marks a sharp turn in tone from his earlier comments, when he downplayed the significance of Gaza’s internal conflicts. But as reports of executions and rival gang violence increase, the humanitarian situation has worsened, with widespread looting of aid convoys and accusations that powerful local clans are selling humanitarian supplies for profit.
Under the Trump-brokered ceasefire deal, Hamas was required to hand over all remaining Israeli hostages — living and deceased — by Monday’s deadline. Although 20 live hostages were released earlier this week, Israeli officials claim that Hamas has not fully complied with the return of the 28 bodies promised in the agreement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel “will not compromise” on the return of its citizens’ remains and demanded that Hamas “honour the deal in full.”
In a statement, Hamas’ armed wing insisted it has complied with the ceasefire terms, claiming that it handed over the remains of hostages in its possession and provided information on others who perished. Two senior US advisers told reporters that Hamas has assured the Trump administration—through intermediaries—that it continues efforts to locate and repatriate the bodies.
While tensions remain high, both Israeli and American officials acknowledge that the ceasefire has reduced cross-border hostilities and allowed for limited humanitarian aid to reach civilians. Yet, with Gaza’s infrastructure devastated, hundreds of thousands displaced, and law enforcement in disarray, fears are growing that the enclave could descend into chaos once more.
As Trump prepares for his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, his administration is seeking to project authority and control over the post-ceasefire landscape in Gaza — a region still reeling from two years of relentless war.
