The United States has warned that Hamas is planning an attack on Gaza’s civilian population. In a statement released on Saturday (October 18), the US State Department said that if such an attack were to occur, it would constitute a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement. The British media outlet BBC reported the news.
However, the United States did not disclose any details about the potential attack or the source of its information. Washington said that other guarantors of the ceasefire—Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—have been alerted to the matter.
The first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has already been implemented. Under the agreement, all living hostages held by Hamas have been released, and the bodies of deceased captives are being gradually returned to Israel. As part of the deal, Israel has freed 250 prisoners from its jails, while 1,718 Palestinians detained in Gaza have also been released.
The statement further noted that if Hamas proceeds with the planned attack, necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety of Gaza’s civilians and to preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.
Hamas has not yet responded to the US allegations.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that if Hamas continues to kill civilians in Gaza, “there will be no option but to annihilate them.” However, he later clarified that the United States would not send troops to Gaza.
Last week, BBC Verify authenticated a video showing Hamas gunmen shooting eight people in a crowded square in Gaza. The victims’ hands were tied behind their backs. Although the identities of the masked shooters could not be confirmed, several were seen wearing Hamas’s green headbands.
On Saturday, Israel announced that it had received the bodies of two more individuals returned by Hamas from Gaza, whose identities have not yet been confirmed. So far, the remains of 10 out of 28 dead captives have been returned.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would remain closed until Hamas returns all the bodies. This crossing is crucial for Gazans, as it is used to transport patients for treatment outside Gaza and serves as a route for people returning home.
