• Source:JND
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The United States issued a rare weekend statement on Saturday, warning that it had received credible intelligence suggesting Hamas is planning an attack against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a move Washington said would represent a “direct and grave violation” of the fragile ceasefire in place.

According to the US State Department, the information has been shared with the guarantor nations of the Gaza peace agreement, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt. “This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,” the statement read.

US Issues Stark Warning

The department emphasised that the guarantors “demand Hamas uphold its obligations under the ceasefire terms” and warned that, should the militant group proceed, “measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.” The statement did not specify what those measures would entail, though US President Donald Trump had earlier threatened action against Hamas over reports of civilian killings.

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Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform earlier this week, declared, “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.” It remains unclear whether his remarks signal potential US military involvement or diplomatic action coordinated through allies.

Growing Internal Violence In Gaza

The warning follows multiple reports that Hamas fighters have executed dozens of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel or belonging to rival clans. Israeli soldiers, who have withdrawn from Gaza in recent days, told Haaretz that they witnessed armed Hamas members shooting at civilians who resisted their control. “What’s happening in Gaza today is inconceivable,” one Israeli soldier said. “It’s beginning to look like a massacre.”

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have reportedly been ordered not to intervene in these internal clashes. The current truce, part of a phased peace deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and the US, ended Israel’s months-long military campaign in exchange for Hamas releasing hostages captured during its October 7, 2023, attack. The agreement’s first phase, involving the release of surviving hostages and the return of the remains of the dead, is still being implemented amid mounting tension.

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The State Department reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to “ensuring the safety of civilians, maintaining calm on the ground, and advancing peace and prosperity for the people of Gaza and the region as a whole.”

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