Washington DC [US], October 22 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump has warned Hamas not to violate the Gaza peace plan, saying there is still hope that the group will do what is right and that ‘if they do not, an end to Hamas will be fast, furious, and brutal’.
Trump’s warning came in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
‘Numerous of our now great allies in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into Gaza with a heavy force and “straighten out Hamas” if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us. The love and spirit for the Middle East has not been seen like this in a thousand years! It is a beautiful thing to behold! I told these countries, and Israel, “Not yet!” There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right,’ Trump said.
‘If they do not, an end to Hamas will be fast, furious, and brutal! I would like to thank all of those countries that called to help. Also, I would like to thank the great and powerful country of Indonesia, and its wonderful leader, for all of the help they have shown and given to the Middle East, and to the USA. To everyone, thank you for your attention to this matter,’ he added.
So far, only Indonesia has publicly expressed willingness to contribute troops to a UN-mandated international force that would help secure post-war Gaza, while Turkey and Azerbaijan have privately conveyed their readiness to do so, officials told The Times of Israel.
According to The New York Times, contrary to Trump’s claims, most countries are hesitant to send forces to Gaza due to concerns they might have to engage in direct clashes with Hamas while stabilising the territory.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has arrived at the Civilian Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, which serves as the headquarters of the new US-led force overseeing the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire.
‘The Vice President is here for private briefings with members of the military,’ The Times of Israel reported.
In a related development, Hamas’s military wing announced that it will hand over two bodies of deceased hostages to Israel at 9 pm (local time). The group stated that the hostages were ‘retrieved today in the Strip’ but did not identify them, according to The Times of Israel.
(ANI)