'Touch Gaza civilians and we'll strike back': US threat to Hamas

The US Department of State issued a warning on Saturday that there are “credible reports” indicating “an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.” In the statement, the state department noted that they have informed the nations guaranteeing the Gaza ceasefire agreement about the latest findings.

“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement,” the department said in a statement. “Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,” it added.

The United States has informed the guarantor nations of the Gaza peace agreement of credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.  

This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation…

— Department of State (@StateDept) October 18, 2025

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The statement from the US came shortly after the Gaza media reported that an Israeli Navy vessel fired shots at Khan Yunis beach in the southern Gaza Strip. The developments are coming at a time when Hamas returned the remains of two hostages on Saturday.

Hamas comes back to Gaza

Amid the pressure from Israel and US President Donald Trump, Hamas called on mediators on Friday to follow up on the implementation of the remaining provisions of the deal. The Palestinian terror group said in a statement that there was a need to complete the formation of a community support committee, which should begin its work in administering the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the group has also sought to reassert itself in Gaza, The Jerusalem Post reported. It is pertinent to note that since the ceasefire came into effect, Hamas has killed at least 32 people in a wave of killings meant to target anti-Hamas clans that had surged in the Strip.

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In a post on TruthSocial, Trump said that “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.” In a separate interview with CNN, Trump said that he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume fighting in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal.

On Friday, for the first time since the ceasefire went into effect, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that it targeted Hamas, striking several terrorists seen exiting a tunnel shaft and opening fire towards troops in Rafah, Southern Gaza.