Trump Warns: "If Hamas Continues Wrongdoing, It Will End Swiftly and Brutally"

"Still Hoping That Hamas Will Do the Right Thing"

On October 21 (local time), President Donald Trump of the United States warned Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, that if it continues to act in violation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, the situation "will end swiftly, fiercely, and brutally."

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

President Trump wrote on the social networking service Truth Social that "nations that have become great allies in the Middle East and surrounding regions have informed me clearly and powerfully, with great enthusiasm," adding, "If Hamas continues its wrongdoing by violating our agreement, they have expressed their willingness to send strong military forces to the Gaza Strip at my request to 'set Hamas straight.'"

President Trump described this "love and passion for the Middle East" as "a beautiful sight not seen in the past thousand years," but also stated, "I told these countries and Israel, 'Not yet!' There is still hope that Hamas will do the right thing."

President Trump's remarks appear to come amid a heightened risk of the ceasefire agreement collapsing, as Hamas has delayed the return of Israeli hostages' bodies promised as part of the first phase of the ceasefire, and Israel has conducted around 100 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip after two of its soldiers were killed by attacks from Palestinian extremists. President Trump's comments about countries willing to "send strong military forces to set Hamas straight" seem to refer to the possible deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) following the exchange of hostages and detainees. The ISF deployment, along with the disarmament of Hamas and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, is a key measure in the second phase of the ceasefire.

However, President Trump has drawn a line against deploying U.S. troops in operations within the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel this week to assess the implementation of the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement, according to the online media outlet Axios, citing officials from both countries. Secretary Rubio is expected to discuss the return of bodies by Hamas, ISF deployment, Hamas disarmament, and the establishment of an interim government, together with Vice President JD Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have already arrived in the region. A U.S. official stated, "In order to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire agreement, we will need to act very quickly and creatively over the next 30 days."