The State Department indicated this Saturday, October 18, that it had “credible information” according to which the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas was preparing an imminent attack against civilians in Gaza, which would be a “violation of the ceasefire,” it stressed.
“This planned attack on Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and serious violation of the ceasefire agreement and would undermine the important progress made through mediation efforts,” the State Department said in a statement.
“If Hamas carries out this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,” he added.
The press release does not detail these measures, although President Trump has already threatened Hamas with retaliation following the execution of civilians this week.
“If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, something that was not foreseen in the agreement, we will have no choice but to go kill them,” the US president wrote on his Truth Social network on Thursday. He did not specify who would be responsible for this potential operation.
A violation reported by Washington
Hamas and Israel last week agreed to a phased peace deal in which Israel would end its military offensive in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages still being held by Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
The first phase of the agreement is being implemented, which involves the release of live hostages and the return of the remains of dead hostages.
Washington said it had informed the peace deal’s guarantors – including the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey – of the “imminent violation of the ceasefire by Hamas.”
The Palestinian movement sought to strengthen its control over the devastated Gaza Strip this week with a campaign of reprisals and executions of people suspected of having collaborated with Israel.
Hamas on Tuesday released a video showing summary executions of alleged “collaborators” on the streets of Gaza City.
Source: BFM TV
