President Donald Trump on Oct. 16 threatened to “go in and kill” Hamas if the group continues killing civilians in Gaza.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 16, 2025
Trump issued the threat in a Truth Social post but did not elaborate. Two days earlier, while meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei at the White House, he told reporters that if Hamas refuses to disarm, “we will disarm them.”
The BBC reported last week that about 200 troops already stationed in the Middle East will deploy to Israel to help monitor the Gaza ceasefire, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
Trump’s comments follow reports and videos showing Hamas gunmen executing Gazans they accuse of collaborating with Israel.
On Oct. 14, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East echoed Trump’s remarks, urging Hamas to halt attacks against civilians in Gaza.
“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza — in both Hamas-held parts of Gaza and those secured by the IDF behind the Yellow Line,” U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement.
He added that the U.S. has directed mediators “to enforce the peace and protect innocent Gaza civilians.”
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Oct. 14 that its troops opened fire on “several suspects” who it said violated the ceasefire boundary in northern Gaza.
Earlier today, several suspects were spotted crossing the yellow line and approaching IDF troops in northern Gaza, a clear violation of the agreement.
After multiple attempts to distance them, the suspects refused to comply, prompting troops to open fire to remove the threat.…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2025
“After multiple attempts to distance them, the suspects refused to comply, prompting troops to open fire to remove the threat. Reports of terrorists infiltrating an IDF position are incorrect,” the IDF said. “The IDF urges Gaza residents to follow instructions and keep their distance from IDF troops.”
Reuters reported that Gaza’s local health authority said the IDF has killed six Palestinians in two separate incidents.
Under Trump’s U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, Israel agreed to withdraw from Gaza in stages as Hamas released hostages and returned the bodies of the dead. Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages Oct. 13 but has yet to return the remains of most of the deceased hostages. According to the BBC, Israel confirmed Oct. 16 that Hamas has returned the remains of two Israelis in exchange for 30 Palestinian bodies and said it needs special equipment to locate the rest.
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