In a statement released Saturday, the department said such an attack on Palestinians would constitute a “direct and grave breach” of the ceasefire and could jeopardize ongoing mediation efforts.
Ceasefire currently in first phase
The first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is presently in effect. Under this deal, all living hostages have been released, while the bodies of deceased hostages are being returned to Israel. In return, Israel has freed 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 Gaza detainees.
Washington said it had alerted other peace guarantors, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, urging them to ensure that Hamas adheres to the truce terms.
“Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,”
the State Department stated.
Hamas has not yet issued any response.
Trump issues warning to Hamas
Former US President Donald Trump also cautioned Hamas against targeting civilians in Gaza, writing on Truth Social:
“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.”
He later clarified that US troops would not be deployed to Gaza.
Reports of violence and casualties
Meanwhile, BBC Verify authenticated disturbing videos showing a public execution by gunmen in Gaza, where several men were shot dead in a crowded square. The gunmen’s identities remain unconfirmed, though some were seen wearing Hamas-style green headbands.
On Saturday, Israel received two more bodies from Gaza—believed to be hostages—though they have not been formally identified. So far, remains of 10 out of 28 deceased hostages have been returned to Israel.
Separately, 11 members of a Palestinian family were reportedly killed by an Israeli tank shell in Gaza. The Hamas-run civil defence ministry made the claim, while the Israeli military said it had targeted a “suspicious vehicle” near the yellow line, a disputed boundary marking Israeli-controlled zones.
Conflict background
The war in Gaza began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and led to 251 hostages being taken. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed at least 68,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry—figures the UN has deemed credible.
In September, a UN inquiry accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel has strongly denied, calling the findings “distorted and false.”
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