Photo File: US President Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas, saying he would “go in and kill” the group if it continues killing people in Gaza—a threat that comes amid growing concern over reported shootings of Palestinian civilians following a ceasefire deal with Israel.

Speaking on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “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 the president did not specify who “we” referred to, his remarks came just a day after he insisted that the U.S. military would not need to be directly involved in Gaza.

The statement marks a sharp shift from Trump’s earlier tone. Earlier in the week, he appeared unfazed by reports of Hamas executing suspected collaborators, telling a White House cabinet meeting, “That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you. That’s OK. It’s a couple of very bad gangs. It’s very different from other countries.”

Under the U.S.-brokered 20-point ceasefire deal, Israeli forces have partially withdrawn from Gaza, creating space for Hamas to reassert control in several cities. However, reports suggest the group has launched a harsh crackdown, including public executions and intimidation of civilians.

The top U.S. commander in the Middle East, Admiral Brad Cooper, has demanded that Hamas immediately halt the killings and fully comply with Trump’s peace plan.

During his recent trip to Israel and Egypt to mark the Gaza truce, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Hamas had shown a willingness to cooperate. “They have been open about it. And we gave them an approval for a period of time,” he said.

Trump’s latest comments, however, signal growing frustration and could mark a tougher U.S. posture toward Hamas if the violence continues despite the ceasefire.