Trump’s Ceasefire on the Brink: U.S. Accuses Hamas of Plotting Gaza Massacre

The United States has delivered a pointed ultimatum to Hamas, accusing the group of plotting an imminent attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza that would shatter the fragile ceasefire with Israel, according to a State Department statement released yesterday.

Officials cited "credible reports" of the planned violation and notified guarantor nations, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, demanding immediate compliance from Hamas while pledging unspecified "measures" to safeguard Gaza's residents and uphold the truce.

The warning underscores mounting U.S. frustration with Hamas's post-ceasefire actions, amid reports of internal executions and clashes that have raised alarms over civilian safety.

The alert follows a surge in violence within Gaza since the ceasefire's implementation on October 4 under President Donald Trump's 20-point plan. Hamas has publicly executed at least 33 individuals accused of collaboration or criminal activity, actions the group frames as essential for "maintaining order" and protecting aid from theft.

Additionally, confrontations with rival clans have resulted in 27 deaths, fueling U.S. concerns that these could escalate into broader civilian-targeted operations in breach of the agreement.

Trump has intensified his stance, stating on Truth Social that continued killings by Hamas would force a response, though he ruled out U.S. troop involvement. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) separately demanded an end to violence against civilians, citing verified footage of executions.

The ceasefire mandates Hamas's disarmament, full hostage release (all living hostages freed; 10 of 28 bodies returned as of October 18), and governance handover, terms the group has balked at, countering with a proposal for a 3-5 year truce.

As reported by Walla, Hamas responded to the U.S. State Department’s statement issued last night, saying: “Hamas rejects the allegations made in the U.S. State Department’s statement and categorically denies claims regarding an ‘imminent attack’ or any ‘violation of the ceasefire agreement.’”

The group asserted that Gaza’s police forces, “together with local residents, are fulfilling their national duty by pursuing criminal gangs and will hold them accountable through clear legal mechanisms in order to protect civilians.” Hamas further called on the U.S. administration “to stop echoing Israel’s false narrative and instead focus on restraining Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire.”

Hamas added, "The continued closure of the Rafah crossing (Gaza-Egypt border, controlled by Israel), preventing the entry of equipment needed to search for missing persons under the rubble, and preventing the entry of heavy machinery and teams to examine the bodies and verify their identities - will lead to delays in rescue operations and the transfer of the fallen hostages. We demand that the mediators and the Arab parties to the agreement act urgently to pressure Israel to open the Rafah crossing immediately and comply with all the terms of the agreement," per Israel Realtime.

Meanwhile, in a not surprising development, Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal was interviewed by Reuters in Doha and affirmed that Hamas intends to retain "security control" in Gaza during a transitional phase to protect aid and maintain order, explicitly avoiding a firm commitment to disarmament by questioning "to whom will the weapons be handed over?" and tying it to broader Palestinian consensus. He proposed a 3-5 year ceasefire as a "hudna" (Islamic term for truce) to rebuild the devastated enclave, emphasizing that long-term guarantees depend on "horizons and hope" for Palestinian statehood, while insisting "the goal isn't to prepare for a future war."

Israeli officials have not directly addressed the U.S. warning but continue to demand full hostage body returns before reopening the Rafah crossing.