Israel Can Resume Gaza Offensive If Hamas Breaks Ceasefire — Trump

President Donald Trump has warned that Israel could resume its military campaign in Gaza if Hamas fails to fully comply with the terms of the current ceasefire agreement.

He stated this on Wednesday during a brief telephone interview with CNN on Wednesday.

Trump said he would “consider allowing” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to return forces to Gaza “as soon as I say the word,” if Hamas refuses to meet its obligations under the peace deal brokered by the United States.

“What’s going on with Hamas – that’ll be straightened out quickly,” Trump told CNN, stressing that the militant group must honour its commitments to release all hostages, both living and deceased.

Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the deal by failing to hand over the bodies of several hostages as agreed.

Under Point 4 of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Hamas was required to return all captives within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance of the agreement.

While all 20 living hostages have been released, only four bodies have so far been delivered, one of which, according to the Israeli military, was not an Israeli hostage.

Israeli authorities have since informed the United Nations that humanitarian aid shipments expected to enter Gaza may be reduced or delayed in response to the incomplete handover.

Trump, however, maintained that the release of the living hostages marked a major breakthrough. “Getting those 20 hostages out was paramount,” he said.

The president’s remarks come amid reports of internal violence in Gaza, including alleged executions by Hamas of rival factions.

Trump said he was still reviewing those claims: “I’m doing research on it, we’ll find out about it. It could be gangs plus,” Trump said.

According to Point 6 of Trump’s plan, Hamas fighters who surrender their weapons and agree to peaceful co-existence will receive amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza will be granted safe passage.

When asked what would happen if the group refused to disarm, Trump replied, “Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word. If Israel could go in and knock the crap out of them, they’d do that. I had to hold them back.”

However, Trump sounded optimistic about the long-term peace effort, citing a huge international backing for his plan.

“Fifty-nine countries are part of this,” he said, referring to the nations that endorsed the “Trump Peace Agreement” during a ceremony in Egypt.

“They want to be part of the Abraham Accords. Now that Iran isn’t a problem, this is all happening,” he stated.

The president also reiterated his commitment to resolving the war between Russia and Ukraine, revealing that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would visit the White House on Friday.

“I’m working hard on the Russian thing. One’s been going on for three years, the other three thousand,” he said.