WASHINGTON / GAZA — U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas, saying that if the militant group fails to honor the terms of a ceasefire agreement, he could order Israeli forces back into Gaza to “destroy” Hamas. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he has struck a deal with Hamas and expects the group to abide by it — but made clear that Washington is prepared to take far more forceful steps if the truce collapses.

“We made an agreement with Hamas and we expect them to behave,” Trump told journalists. “If they do not, we will have to eliminate Hamas.” He asserted that, if ordered, the Israeli military could re-enter Gaza and quickly dismantle Hamas’s leadership and fighting capability. “If I tell them to go in, Israel could go in and wipe out Hamas in two minutes,” he said, using language that underscored both the administration’s close ties with Israel and the dramatic nature of the threat.

At the same time, Trump affirmed that his immediate policy is to keep tensions “cool” and maintain the current ceasefire. “Right now, we are pursuing a policy of holding things steady and preserving the ceasefire,” he said, stressing a preference for stability while keeping military options on the table.

The president’s comments come amid fragile truce arrangements and international efforts to secure the release of hostages and deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza. In a related interview with CNN, Trump also lamented that Hamas had not yet returned the bodies of many hostages, saying that out of 28 hostages, “most” of their remains have not been handed over — a claim he raised to underscore the humanitarian urgency he says justifies pressure on Hamas.