Donald Trump emphasized on Monday that Hamas will be “eliminated” if it fails to comply with the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, following Israel’s accusations on Sunday that the Palestinian Islamist movement had violated the truce — charges Hamas denied.

“We made a deal with Hamas,” the U.S. president told reporters at the White House, standing beside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, “and they’d better stick to it. If not, we’ll eliminate them if necessary.” He added, “They’ll be wiped out — and they know it.”

On the other hand, Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, reiterated Monday morning on Egypt’s Al Qahera News channel that his organization remains committed to the agreement.

“We are facing many difficulties in retrieving the remains (of deceased hostages), but we are determined and working hard to achieve this,” he said.
“The Gaza agreement holds because we want it to, and our will to uphold it is strong,” he insisted.

Vance’s visit and diplomatic context
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance left Washington yesterday for Israel. Presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had already met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after deadly airstrikes in Gaza raised fears that the October 10 ceasefire could collapse.

Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza on Sunday, which its political and military leadership said were in retaliation for Hamas attacks — claims the group denied.

According to the Hamas-run civil defense service in Gaza, at least 45 people were killed in Sunday’s bombings, and another four died on Monday in the eastern part of Gaza City.
The Israeli military said it had targeted “terrorists” approaching the “yellow line,” the boundary separating Israeli-controlled areas.

U.S. position and Trump’s warnings
President Trump also demanded that Hamas halt public executions, as the group seeks to reassert control over a territory largely devastated after two years of war.

However, he reiterated that U.S. forces will not participate in operations against Hamas, claiming that “dozens” of countries had agreed to take part in a potential international stabilization force in Gaza and “would be happy to intervene.”

“Israel would intervene in two minutes if I asked them to,” Trump said. “But for now, we haven’t asked. We’re leaving a small window open, hoping the violence eases a bit. But for now — you know — they’re violent people.”

Trump also argued that Hamas has been significantly weakened, particularly because Iran, its main regional backer, is unlikely to step in after Israel’s 12-day war in June, in which the U.S. was also involved.

“They no longer really have anyone’s support,” Trump concluded. “They’d better stick to the deal — and if they don’t, they’ll be wiped out.”