The US State Department says it has 'credible reports' that Hamas is planning an 'imminent' attack on civilians in Gaza, which it says would violate the ceasefire agreement. A statement released on Saturday said a planned attack against Palestinians would be a 'direct and grave' violation of the ceasefire agreement and 'undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts'. The state department did not provide further details on the attack and it is unclear what reports it was citing.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is currently in progress - all living hostages have been released and bodies of the deceased are still being returned to Israel. Also part of the agreement, Israel freed 250 Palestinian prisoners in its jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Washington said it had already informed other guarantors of the Gaza peace agreement - which include Egypt, Qatar and Turkey - and demanded Hamas uphold its end of the ceasefire 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 statement said. Hamas has not yet commented on the statement. President Donald Trump has previously warned Hamas against the killing of civilians, stating, '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,' while clarifying he would not send US troops into Gaza.
Last week, graphic videos authenticated by BBC Verify showed a public execution carried out by Hamas gunmen in Gaza, raising further concerns about the group’s actions amidst the ongoing conflict. On Saturday, Israel reported receiving two more bodies from Gaza, believed to be hostages, although they have yet to be formally identified. An Israeli tank shell reportedly killed 11 members of one Palestinian family in a separate incident, marking the deadliest event involving Israeli soldiers in Gaza since the ceasefire began.
The Israeli military continues its operations in the area following the deadly assault by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. Since then, Israeli attacks in Gaza have claimed an estimated 68,000 lives, a figure the UN regards as credible. A recent UN commission report has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, a claim Israel strongly disputes.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is currently in progress - all living hostages have been released and bodies of the deceased are still being returned to Israel. Also part of the agreement, Israel freed 250 Palestinian prisoners in its jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Washington said it had already informed other guarantors of the Gaza peace agreement - which include Egypt, Qatar and Turkey - and demanded Hamas uphold its end of the ceasefire 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 statement said. Hamas has not yet commented on the statement. President Donald Trump has previously warned Hamas against the killing of civilians, stating, '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,' while clarifying he would not send US troops into Gaza.
Last week, graphic videos authenticated by BBC Verify showed a public execution carried out by Hamas gunmen in Gaza, raising further concerns about the group’s actions amidst the ongoing conflict. On Saturday, Israel reported receiving two more bodies from Gaza, believed to be hostages, although they have yet to be formally identified. An Israeli tank shell reportedly killed 11 members of one Palestinian family in a separate incident, marking the deadliest event involving Israeli soldiers in Gaza since the ceasefire began.
The Israeli military continues its operations in the area following the deadly assault by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. Since then, Israeli attacks in Gaza have claimed an estimated 68,000 lives, a figure the UN regards as credible. A recent UN commission report has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, a claim Israel strongly disputes.
